- Six victims identified in Philadelphia plane crash, including a mother and daughter, all were Mexican citizens.
- 22 injured, with five still hospitalized, as authorities investigate the cause of the crash.
- Crash caused significant damage to homes and businesses near Roosevelt Mall, with power outages affecting the area.
Six victims of a fatal small plane crash in Philadelphia, including a mother and her daughter, have been identified by the company operating the medical transport jet.
A seventh victim, who was on the ground at the time of the crash, has not yet been named.
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Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced on Sunday that the number of injured had risen to 22, with five people still hospitalized, three of whom remain in critical condition.
The cause of the crash remains undetermined, but investigators have recovered the aircraft’s black box, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed in a statement.
A spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance disclosed to CBS that all those on board were Mexican citizens, including a child who was being transported for medical treatment. The identified victims are Captain Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, co-pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, Doctor Raul Meza Arredondo, Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, Valentina Guzman Murillo, and Lizeth Murillo Ozuna.
The crash occurred on Friday just blocks from Roosevelt Mall, a three-story shopping centre in a densely populated part of Philadelphia, the fifth-largest city in the U.S. The area is lined with terraced housing and commercial establishments, many of which lost power following the impact.
Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage. While the number of displaced individuals remains unclear, officials confirmed that 11 properties sustained significant structural damage. A temporary shelter at a local high school has been housing an average of six people per night, and several businesses have also been affected.
Although some streets around the crash site remain closed, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel indicated that certain lanes could reopen by Monday.
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The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with local agencies, are investigating the deadly crash. Preliminary findings suggest that the aircraft reached approximately 1,500 feet before entering a steep descent and crashing at high impact. The entire flight lasted less than a minute, officials said.
Investigators have recovered both engines, but the aircraft’s black box has yet to be located. Mayor Parker assured the public that investigators are “poring over every bit of material available.”
Residents in the area have been urged to report any debris they find as authorities continue their investigation.
