Philadelphia plane crash latest: NTSB finishes on-site work, forensics investigation ongoing

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says Philadelphia plane crash left 'expansive' impact zone

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 10:20AM
NTSB finishes work at plane crash site; investigation ongoing
Philadelphia plane crash latest: NTSB finishes on-site work, forensics investigation ongoing

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The National Transportation Safety Board has concluded its work at the site of the deadly medical jet crash in Northeast Philadelphia, officials announced on Tuesday.

The crash claimed the lives of seven people and injured 24 others, but Managing Director Adam Thiel noted the forensics investigation is still ongoing.

"We still will not have a definitive answer about the number of victims or casualties until we are done with the entire forensic investigation and process all of the samples that were collected from the site," he said.

Federal investigators will examine the black box recovered on Sunday, along with other evidence, to determine what may have caused the crash.

On Tuesday, the NTSB released images of the cockpit flight recorder (CVR), which was discovered 8 feet deep in the crater left in the aftermath of the crash on Cottman Avenue.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the plane did not have a data recorder, but investigators are hoping to retrieve flight data from the jet's ground proximity warning system.

"Information can come off that device, whether it's the speed or location of the aircraft. We will be able to get some data, hopefully, off that device," he said.

NTSB releases an image of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the Learjet 55 that crashed on Jan. 31 in Philadelphia
NTSB releases an image of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the Learjet 55 that crashed on Jan. 31 in Philadelphia
NTSB

Crews from several city agencies will be working overnight Tuesday to make sure streets are clean of debris in hopes of having most businesses in the area reopen as of Wednesday morning and allow most area residents to return to their homes.

"I still want to say this is a controlled area, so if you are not a resident or a business, or with a resident or working for a business, we really just want you to stay away from this area," Thiel noted.

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A father recalls the Philadelphia plane crash that left his 10-year-old son injured and recovering at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Four homes were destroyed, six received major damage, and 11 received other damages. In all, 366 properties were impacted in some way, officials revealed Tuesday.

"I heard the noise. The house was shaking, a couple of windows fell down," recalled Thamby Markus who lives 500 feet from the point of impact.

Sheraz Khan and his roommates live on Rupert Street and say their windows remain blown out.

"A lot of windows in our house they are like, they won't close. It smells like fuel, gas," Khan said.

Licenses and Inspection have been helping people whose homes are too dangerous to reenter, and police have been escorting people to and from damaged property.

The Red Cross also continues to help those displaced. A shelter that was open at Samuel Fels High School closed Tuesday night.

RELATED: What can the 'black box' tell us about plane crashes?

A town hall will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at S. Solis-Cohen Elementary School located at 7001 Horrocks Street.

SEE ALSO: Owners of NE Philly law office recall closing early on night of plane crash

Owners of NE Philly law office recall closing early on night of crash

The crash Friday evening killed all six people on the Learjet 55 air ambulance, including a girl who had been receiving medical treatment at Shriners Children's Philadelphia hospital. A seventh person inside a vehicle was killed on the ground.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said the plane had been taking Valentina Guzmán Murillo, 11, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, 31, home to Mexico. It plummeted within a minute of taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. Jet Rescue identified its team members as Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, 41; the captain, Alan Montoya Perales, 46; the copilot, Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43; and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, 41.

WATCH: New video gives closest look yet at site of plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia

Valentina had recently completed treatment for a condition not easily treated in Mexico, hospital officials have said.

The Philadelphia crash occurred two days after the deadliest U.S. air disaster in a generation, when an American Airlines jet with 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair in Washington, D.C., with an Army helicopter carrying three soldiers.

Audio recorded by LiveATC captured an air traffic controller at Northeast Philadelphia Airport telling "Medevac Medservice 056" to turn right when departing. About 30 seconds later, the controller repeats the request before asking, "You on frequency?" Minutes later the controller says, "We have a lost aircraft. We're not exactly sure what happened, so we're trying to figure it out. For now, the field is going to be closed."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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