On January 30, a medical transport jet en route from the United States to Mexico tragically crashed over Philadelphia, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board. Among the victims were 31-year-old Lizeth Murillo Ozuna and her 11-year-old daughter, Valentina Guzman Murillo.
Valentina had been receiving treatment for a spinal condition at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. The ill-fated flight also claimed the lives of Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, co-pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, and captain Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales.
The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport but crashed shortly after takeoff, reaching an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet before descending rapidly. The incident caused a massive fireball, engulfing nearby homes and vehicles, and resulted in the death of an individual on the ground, whose identity has not yet been released.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker expressed her condolences, stating, “A devastating plane crash occurred in Northeast Philadelphia near Roosevelt Mall at Cottman and Bustleton Avenues on Friday evening, January 31, 2025, at approximately 6:10 pm.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, with assistance from local agencies. Investigators have recovered the jet’s black box, which was buried eight feet underground, and it will be analyzed for critical flight data to aid in the investigation.
This tragic event has left families and communities mourning the loss of their loved ones, as authorities work diligently to uncover the factors that led to this heartbreaking accident.
