Tragedy in Philadelphia just two days after the Washinton disaster: Air ambulance crash claims lives
In Philadelphia, a small plane crashed into buildings in the northeastern part of the city, causing a fire in several houses and cars, reports CBS News. Six people were on board the aircraft, and there are reports of casualties.
The plane crashed at around 12:30 AM Greenwich Mean Time in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. The aircraft, a Learjet 55 belonging to air ambulance services, took off from nearby Northeast Philadelphia Airport and was headed to Springfield, Missouri.
The first footage from the scene has appeared online, showing the plane descending at great speed and several houses and cars ablaze.
Local media report that "there are many casualties." Many people on the ground are reported to be injured, but the exact number is not yet known. A large shopping centre is in the vicinity.
According to witness accounts quoted by Fox 29 Philadelphia, explosions were heard at the scene after the plane crashed. An employee of one of the local businesses recounted that he saw "a huge explosion of light that came out of nowhere."
Another plane crash in the USA
The aviation disaster in Philadelphia occurred while the world was still reeling from the tragedy that took place just two days earlier in Washington.
A passenger plane flying from Kansas collided with a military helicopter conducting a training flight just in front of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
On board the American Airlines flight were 60 passengers and four crew members. In the helicopter were three soldiers. All died.
