By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-02-01 17:43:23 | Updated at 2025-02-01 20:36:48
3 hours ago
A chilling moan was heard in newly released recorded conversation between air traffic control and the doomed air ambulance that crashed over Pennsylvania on Friday night.
The audio comes as it was revealed victims on board the small Learjet 55 plane included a young pediatric patient who was traveling back to Mexico after having just undergone life-saving medical treatment in the US.
In the minutes leading up to the crash, air traffic control was heard speaking with the air ambulance, including asking the pilot 'what frequency' they were on.
Social media debated the next part of their conversation, as sharp-eared listeners said they could hear one side saying the other was 'talking with the wrong people.'
A few seconds after that remark, an ominous moan could be heard coming from what several social media user believed was the cockpit. Officials have not revealed what caused the crash, and an investigation is ongoing.
After a brief pause, an air traffic controller asked, 'What's going on down there?', to which another dispatcher answered: 'We have a lost aircraft.'
'We're not exactly sure what happened, we're trying to figure it out,' they added. 'For now, the field is going to be closed.'
The crash came just two days after an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a US military Blackhawk helicopter over Reagan International Airport in Washington DC on Wednesday night, killing 67 people in a tragic incident with no survivors.
The back-to-back disasters have left America's flying public spooked, amid reports from aviation experts that the industry is rife with near-misses and errors.
A young pediatric patient who had just undergone life-saving medical treatment in the U.S. was onboard the Learjet 55 air ambulance that crashed in a fiery explosion in northeast Philadelphia
Debris was seen scattered throughout the residential neighborhood in Philadelphia where the air ambulance fell from the skies on Friday night
Shocking footage from the ground soon emerged after the plane went down, as at least six people - all from Mexico - lost their lives when it plummeted into a densely populated area in northern Philadelphia.
The aircraft, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was bound for Tijuana, Mexico, with a stop at Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri.
The plane had just taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport when it fell from the sky, tragically carrying the young pediatric patient and their escort following life-saving medical treatment.
The crash site, near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, quickly became engulfed in flames, with buildings and vehicles caught in the inferno.
Shai Gold, a spokesman for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, confirmed the heartbreaking news, stating how the young girl had fought tirelessly to survive her illness.
'She did her course of care. She was going home,' Gold said. 'She fought quite a lot to survive, and unfortunately, this tragedy on the way home.'
On board the ill-fated flight were the girl's mother, a pilot, a co-pilot, a doctor, and a paramedic, each of whom had dedicated themselves to ensuring the child's safe return. But in a cruel twist of fate, the journey ended in disaster.
The Learjet 55, often used for critical medical transport, is a lifeline for patients like the young girl who was onboard. The girl was a patient of Shriners Children's Philadelphia, the hospital confirmed.
Businesses near the Roosevelt Mall were captured on a separate video on fire along with several cars parked along the busy street
Thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the air following the fiery crash
The aftermath of the catastrophe was captured on harrowing drone footage, which showed the chaotic scenes on the ground.
In a one-minute video shared to X, the busy street lined with homes and businesses was completely engulfed in massive, bright-orange flames.
Thick, dark plumes of smoke were seen saturating the sky above as dozens of fires continued to ravage the road below.
Multiple homes facing the road were seen swallowed in flames as the bright lights of responding emergency vehicles blocked off the area on both sides.
Businesses near the Roosevelt Mall were also captured ablaze as well as several cars parked along the street.
The lit-up debris was seen scattered throughout the entirety of the neighborhood.
The fiery disaster was also captured on doorbell footage, which showed two unsuspecting people leaving their home.
A doorbell camera also captured the fiery disaster. The nail-biting video shows two unsuspecting people leaving their home at the same moment the plane exploded into a fireball
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance does not believe that anyone on the jet had survived the impact
Just seconds into the clip, a white orb is seen picking up speed before a bright light filled the sky - sending the witnesses into a bout of full-fledged terror.
The people in the video were heard letting out gut-wrenching screams as they rushed back inside to shield themselves from the disastrous wreck.
The blaring explosion, which sounded like shattering glass, was followed by an orange tint filling the sky above.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
