The tragic plane crash in Philadelphia on January 31 claimed the lives of six people, including an 11-year-old girl and her mother. Authorities have now confirmed the identities of the victims. The Learjet 55, a medical transport aircraft, took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport but crashed into a residential neighborhood shortly after reaching 1,500 feet.
Among the passengers were Valentina Guzman Murillo, 11, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, 31. Valentina had recently undergone life-saving medical treatment and was on her way home when the accident occurred. Hospital staff, who had watched her battle bravely through treatment, bid her farewell earlier that day, never expecting it to be the last time they would see her. A hospital spokesperson expressed their heartbreak over the tragedy, calling the loss devastating.
The crew and medical personnel onboard also perished. The victims included Captain Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, Copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla. The flight was intended to transport Valentina safely back home after her treatment, but instead ended in a catastrophic loss.
The crash also claimed the life of a bystander on the ground, whose car was struck by the aircraft. In addition, 22 others were injured, three critically, as the jet’s impact caused significant destruction in the area, damaging 11 homes. Emergency services have urged residents to report any missing loved ones as authorities continue to assess the extent of the devastation.
Officials are investigating the cause of the crash, hoping to bring clarity to a tragedy that has left families mourning and a community in shock.