A small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia on Friday, igniting a massive fire and injuring several people on the ground, authorities said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially reported two people aboard the Learjet 55 but later updated the number to six. It remains unclear whether the passengers were ejected upon impact or managed to escape the wreckage.
The aircraft had just taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport en route to Springfield, Missouri, when the crash occurred. The plane came down at a busy intersection near Roosevelt Mall, setting multiple homes and vehicles ablaze in the densely populated area.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene to battle the flames and assist victims. Several residents suffered injuries due to the ensuing fires and debris.
“We are offering all resources as emergency services respond to the small private plane crash in Northeast Philly,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote on social platform X. “We’ll continue to provide updates as more information is available.”
The FAA confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
