A small plane crashed in a residential area in Northeast Philadelphia, United States, causing an explosion and, unfortunately, at least six fatalities, according to reports from Fox News. The ABC6 channel also reported multiple victims, indicating that the aircraft impacted near an intersection in the Pennsylvania city. Police reports cited by CBS News state that two people were on board the plane, which included two pilots, two doctors, and one patient, according to FOX 29.
The Philadelphia Fire Department issued alerts about a large fire, requesting all available resources and sharing only verified information as it became available. The city's Emergency Management office reported a "major incident" near the Roosevelt mall, leading to traffic disruptions in the area, as seen in a photo showing a column of smoke.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro commented on the accident, offering state resources to address the emergency of the private aircraft. According to a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane, a Learjet 55, crashed near the Roosevelt mall after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport bound for Springfield.
The causes of the incident have not yet been determined, which occurred near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. Witnesses shared videos showing the moment of the explosion followed by fire and smoke. Details about the victims have not yet been revealed.
