Update: Eighth Victim Dies from Injuries Sustained in January Crash
The cockpit voice recorder from the Learjet 55 medical transport that crashed in Northeast Philadelphia never recorded flight audio, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The jet crashed on January 31, killing all seven on board, including an 11-year-old pediatric patient and her mother. Another was killed, and at least two dozen others were injured on the ground. Officials said the recorder, or “black box,” likely had not worked for several years.
The jet was destined for the patient’s home in Tijuana, Mexico after a planned layover at Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) in Missouri. The girl and her mother were returning home after a five-month stay at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia for a life-threatening illness.
According to the NTSB, after departing Northeast Philadelphia Airport, the plane proceeded southwest, reaching an altitude of 1,650 feet mean sea level when tracking data for the flight ended around 6:00 p.m. The entire flight lasted approximately one minute before the jet plummeted to the ground. According to the report, the flight crew communicated with air traffic control, and no distress calls were made.
Numerous videos showed the plane crashing to the ground and erupting into a massive explosion in a residential and commercial area three miles from the airport. Wreckage spread thousands of feet, destroying or significantly damaging more than a dozen homes and businesses with debris and fire.
The cockpit voice recorder was significantly damaged in the initial impact crater under 8 feet of soil and debris. Investigators at the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, D.C. determined that it had not recorded the flight and likely had not recorded audio for several years.
The plane was also equipped with an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), which may contain flight data in its nonvolatile memory. The manufacturer is currently evaluating whether any relevant flight data can be recovered.
Both pilots were licensed to operate a Learjet 55, experienced, and also held medical certificates from Mexico’s Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. The crash was among a series of recent aviation disasters. It occurred just two days after an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair in Washington, D.C.
UPDATE: Woman Injured in January Crash Dies Months Later from Her Injuries
In January, first responders on the scene discovered the plane had crashed into a vehicle on the ground, killing one occupant instantly. The other survived and was rushed to an area trauma unit with severe burns to over 70 percent of her body. She was put into a medically induced coma but later died of her injuries on April 27, 2025. The couple is survived by a 9-year-old son.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury, Samuel Anyan Attorney At Law can review your case and discuss your legal options. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 833-372-6946 or contacting us online. Located in Philadelphia, we serve clients in Montgomery County, Bucks County, Delaware County, Chester County, Dauphin County, Berks County, Lehigh County, and Northampton County.