An air ambulance transporting a sick child, her mother and four others has crashed in a Philadelphia neighbourhood in the United States.
The incident occurred days after a US passenger plane and a military helicopter collided midair in US capital Washington, DC.
Daily Intel gathered that the air ambulance which was conveying the child said to have recovered from a life threatening ailment crashed shortly after takeoff on Friday evening, exploding in a fireball that engulfed several homes.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which operated the Learjet 55, said in a statement: “We cannot confirm any survivors.” It said the plane had four crew members apart from the child and her mother.
All six on board were Mexican citizens, the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The child was being transported home, according to Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold. The flight’s final destination was Tijuana after a stop in Missouri, about 1,800km (1,100 miles) to the southwest.
“The patient had received care from Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was being transported back to her home country in Mexico on a contracted air ambulance when the crash happened,” said Mel Bower, a spokesman for Shriners Children’s hospital
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro told reporters at the crash scene that “we know there will be loss in this region”. “We want to offer our thoughts and our serious prayers for those that are grieving at this moment,” Shapiro said.
US President Donald Trump wrote on social media. “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job,”
