In a tragic incident on January 31, 2025, a medical evacuation flight crashed shortly after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board. The aircraft, a Learjet 55 operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was transporting a young girl who had received critical medical treatment in Philadelphia, along with her mother, a doctor, a paramedic, and the flight crew, back to Mexico.
The flight had taken off at approximately 6:06 p.m., destined for Tijuana, Mexico, with a scheduled stop in Missouri. However, less than a minute after departure, the plane plummeted into a neighborhood near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, causing a massive explosion and subsequent fires that damaged multiple homes and vehicles.
Authorities have identified the flight crew as pilot Alan Montoya and co-pilot Jesús Juárez. Dr. Raúl Meza, a pediatrician and neonatologist, was also on board, accompanying the young patient and her mother. All six individuals were Mexican citizens, as confirmed by Mexico’s President.
The crash also impacted residents on the ground, with at least one person killed and 19 others injured. Emergency response teams, including the FBI, ATF, and NTSB, have been conducting investigations at the crash site to determine the cause of the accident.
This incident follows a previous fatal crash involving a Jet Rescue air ambulance in Mexico in 2023, raising concerns about the safety protocols of the operator. The aviation community and regulatory authorities are closely monitoring the investigation to prevent future tragedies.
The loss has deeply affected both the local community and the families of the victims. Support services have been mobilized to assist those impacted by the disaster, and a thorough investigation is underway to uncover the factors leading to this devastating event.