Philly plane crash: Young store employees describe crash as they worked
Philly plane crash: Young workers describe crash as they worked and impact
A group of young workers at a store near the site of the deadly Learjet crash describe their experience in their workplace and the traumatic impact it has had.
NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA - January 31st, a medevac Learjet crashed into one of the busiest streets in Philadelphia, near the Roosevelt Mall, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground, as well as injuring 24 other people.
A group of teens were working at the Roosevelt Mall when the plane crashed nearby, causing a lot of grief and trauma as they became witnesses to the terror.
What they're saying:
"I was finding some shoes for a customer," Diomani Morell said.
"It was very traumatizing what I seen on that day. It still has an impact on me every day," Hans Ching remarked.
So young and now so traumatized at what they all went through together one week ago.
"Still traumatizing. I still think about it every day. I can’t unsee it," Chosen McClain stated.
Philadelphia plane crash: Witnesses describe the horror of crash
Many in Northeast Philadelphia are dealing with the shock and trauma in the aftermath of the deadly plane crash as many nearby residents detail what they saw and can't get out of their minds.
What we know:
For the bright, hard-working staff at JD Sports, the 18-year-olds saw the images out of the front doors of the store, and still see those images one week later, and the images are just as horrific in their minds.
Describing the scene:
"I went to Raising Cane’s to go get some lunch and all I remember…I was ordering and it just happened and I looked back and we just saw flames and fire and all this smoke," Josviel Torres
described his experience regarding the fatal crash.
"I was helping a customer and all I saw was the plane. I heard a boom outside. So, at first I thought it was a car that hit another store. When I heard it was a plane crash, I actually panicked," McClain said.
"It’s gotten a little better now. They fixed everything up, but it’s still traumatizing. Having the thoughts and seeing everything, it’s still traumatizing having all that in the back of your head," Morell added.
Big picture view:
Young workers who went from helping customers find the right pair of sneakers to suddenly helping them find a safe way out of the smoke and flames.
With a week to begin to try to handle how they suddenly found themselves growing up fast under so much instant pressure and so many awful memories, the young workers are dealing with it all the best they can.
"Over time, this is really the world we live in and it’s like, stuff happens that we don’t really expect to happen," Torres said.
"It still has a big impact on me. Like, people really died out there," Ching said.
Philly plane crash: Businesses look to pick up the pieces with help of city resources
Folks went to the multi-agency resource center at the Friends Hospital to get resources for an employee they say is still struggling after the Philly plane crash. Here's what we know about the resources available.
What's next:
The Shapiro Administration and Philadelphia city officials are offering to support those impacted with a new multi-agency resource center and additional resources.
Mental health services are available through the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services website, here, or dial 988.