A medical transport jet carrying a sick child and five others has crashed in Philadelphia.
The child had been treated in the city and was heading home to Mexico.
The Jet Rescue Air Ambulance was carrying the girl and her mother from Northeast Philadelphia Airport to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri - on their way home to Tijuana, Mexico, the company said.
It crashed about 30 seconds after taking off, erupting in a fireball and engulfing several homes in flames.
The plane came down near the Roosevelt Mall in the Rhawnhurst area of Pennsylvania at 6.30pm local time on Friday (11.30pm Irish time).
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, center, speaks during a news conference following a plane crash in Philadelphia, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker is at his left. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)Four members of crew were also on board, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.
The aircraft had climbed to 1,600ft (487m) and travelled around three miles (5km) from the airport - before it came down.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which is based in Mexico, said: "At this time we cannot confirm any survivors."
'We don't really know what happened'
Shai Gold, who works in corporate strategy for the company, said it was "terribly shocked by this tragic turn of events".
"This was a very seasoned crew," she said.
"We are a leading air ambulance company, we fly 600 to 700 times a year.
"We don't really know what happened."
First responders work the scene after a small plane crashed in Philadelphia, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)Large fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were sent to the scene, with the fire appearing to have been put out around two hours after the crash.
There were reports of people injured on the ground - but no details were confirmed.
The crash comes days after a plane collided with a US Army helicopter as it came into land at an airport in Washington DC.
Reporting via IRN.
Main image: Smoke rises as first responders work the scene after a small plane crashed in Philadelphia, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
