In addition to the six individuals on the plane, one person on the ground was killed and two dozen people were injured.

Cleanup of this weekend’s plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia continues as federal investigators have begun combing through debris in search of a cause for the medical jet, carrying six people, to drop out of the sky shortly after takeoff.

Victims Identified

The passengers included 11-year-old Valentina Guzman Murillo, who had been receiving treatment for spina bifida at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Ozuna. The crew members were identified as Captain Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, co-pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, physician Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla. All were Mexican nationals. 

Impact on the Ground

The crash had devastating effects on the ground, resulting in the death of one individual in a vehicle and injuries to at least 24 others. The impact caused significant damage to the Castor Gardens neighborhood, with multiple homes and vehicles set ablaze. Residents described the scene as resembling a “horror movie,” with debris scattered across the area. 

One young man, ten-year-old Andre Howard III, was in the car with his family when the crash occurred nearby. Andre was knocked unconscious and injured by shrapnel when he dove on top of his four-year-old sister to shield her from the explosion’s debris. Howard has been receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is expected to recover. According to his father, Andre’s first words upon waking up were “Did I save her from the crash?”

Investigation Underway

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the enhanced ground proximity warning system from the wreckage, which were buried eight feet underground at the crash site. These devices have been sent to Washington, D.C., for analysis. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, though the final report may take up to two years.