Philly plane crash: Roosevelt Mall to reopen after medevac plane crash that killed 7, injured dozens
PHILADELPHIA - An eight-foot-deep crater in the parking lot of Roosevelt Mall in Northeast Philadelphia marks the spot where a medevac plane with six people aboard slammed into the ground, killing seven and injuring dozens more.
On Wednesday, shoppers will be able to return to the normally busy strip mall for the first time since the crash that erupted into a fireball and destroyed nearby parked cars and damaged homes.
As investigators work to determine how exactly the Learjet en route to Missouri fell from the sky mere seconds after take off, those who survived the crash are sharing stories about heroic actions taken by many to help in a time of crisis.
What we know:
A medical plane with six people aboard, including a pediatric patient and her mother, crashed on Cottman Avenue just after 6 p.m. Friday while en route to Missouri.
The collision exploded into a fireball that engulfed nearby cars and damaged homes and businesses. One person who was in their car during the crash was killed.
Officials haven't speculated about how the plane fell from the sky, but the NTSB says they recovered a cockpit voice recorder that could shed light on what happened.
"If you look at the impact, and how deep that crater is, it was a very steep angle at which that aircraft came down," Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said.
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Philly plane crash victims
JetRescue, the company behind the medevac plane that crashed, shared information about the two passengers and four crew members killed in the crash.
- Valentina Guzman Murillo, 11-year-old patient
- Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, 31-year-old mother of Valentina
- Capt. Alan Montoya Perales, 46, who has been with the company since 2016
- Co-Pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43, who has been with the company since December 2023
- Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, 41, who has been flying with Jet Rescue since 2020
- Paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, 41, who has been with the company since November 2023
The identity of the seventh person, who officials say was in their car when the crash happened, has not been released.
Two dozen other people were injured in the crash, including some who remain in critical condition. A 10-year-old boy was among those injured after he shielded his younger sister from flying debris, and a man who was sitting inside a nearby diner when he was struck with shrapnel was also hurt.
Roosevelt Mall reopening Wednesday
Shoppers will be allowed to return to Roosevelt Mall for the first time since the Friday night crash.
The strip mall's reopening comes after the local and federal investigators completed their on-site investigation.
Dunkin and Raising Cane's will remain closed on Wednesday.
What's next:
Mayor Cherelle Parker will hold a town hall meeting on the deadly crash Wednesday night at Solis-Cohen Elementary School.