Local News
Mexican Girl and Her Mother Among Victims in Northeast Philadelphia Plane Crash
At least six people were on board a small medical transport plane that crashed in Northeast Philadelphia near Roosevelt Mall on Friday, January 31, resulting in multiple fatalities, officials confirmed.
Among the victims was a young girl from Tijuana, Mexico, who was returning home after receiving life-saving medical treatment in the United States.
The aircraft was piloted by Captain Alan Montoya and co-pilot Josuรฉ Juรกrez, who were transporting the child patient Valentina Guzman Murillo and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna and medical personnel Flight Paramedic – Rodrigo Lopez back to Mexico after the girl had received life-saving treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia.
The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue, just minutes after the aircraft, a Learjet 55 registered as XA-UCI, took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
The plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it went down.
According to Shai Gold, a spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the young girl had been receiving treatment for a life-threatening illness in the U.S., sponsored by a third-party charity.
She was accompanied on the flight by her mother, a doctor, and a paramedic, along with the pilot and co-pilot.
โShe fought quite a lot to survive, and unfortunately, this tragedy occurred on her way home,โ Gold said. Due to privacy laws, further details regarding the childโs condition and treatment were not disclosed.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance believes there were no survivors from the crash.
Multiple videos captured the harrowing final moments of the flight, showing the plane plummeting from the sky before striking the ground in a fiery explosion.
The impact ignited several nearby homes and vehicles, with flames and thick smoke billowing into the evening sky.
Philadelphiaโs Office of Emergency Management issued alerts to residents, advising them to avoid the area, close their windows, and remain indoors due to smoke and debris hazards. Roads surrounding the crash site remain closed as emergency crews continue their response efforts.
Two SEPTA buses were dispatched to support first responders, providing shelter and logistical assistance near the intersection of Bustleton and Cottman Avenues, according to a SEPTA spokesperson.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the Learjet 55 had departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport shortly before the crash. Flight data indicates the plane lost altitude rapidly, disappearing from radar within 30 seconds of takeoff.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance released a statement confirming the crash and emphasizing their focus on supporting the families of the victims and their personnel. โOur immediate concern is for the patientโs family, our crew members, and any other individuals affected by this tragedy,โ the statement read.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash. No names of the victims have been released pending notification of their families.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Local News
Suspended Dearborn Ford worker Thomas Sabula received more than $320K after Trump flips him off
DEARBORN, Mich. โ A suspended Ford Motor Company employee has become the focus of national attention after a confrontation with former President Donald Trump during a visit to a Dearborn assembly plant, prompting an outpouring of public support that has raised more than $324,000 for his family through an online fundraiser.
The worker, Thomas โTJโ Sabula, a 40-year-old United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 member, was placed on suspension pending an internal investigation following an exchange that occurred while Trump was touring the facility.
According to video later obtained and published by TMZ, an off-camera voice can be heard shouting โpedophile protectorโ at the former president, an apparent reference to the administrationโs handling of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In the footage, Trump appears to mouth an expletive and make a hand gesture before walking away.
The Washington Post subsequently identified Sabula as the individual who made the remark.
In an interview with the newspaper, Sabula confirmed that he was suspended after the incident and said he believes the action amounts to political retaliation.
โAs far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,โ Sabula told The Post. โBut I am concerned about my job. I believe Iโve been targeted for political retribution for embarrassing him in front of his friends.โ
Sabula, who describes himself as politically independent, said he has never voted for Trump, though he has supported Republican candidates in the past.
In the days following the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist Sabula and his family during his suspension.
The campaign states that Sabula is โa father of two young children, a husband, and a proud UAW Local 600 line worker,โ and that the funds will be used to help cover household and living expenses โduring this time of uncertainty.โ Donations quickly surged past $100,000, with notable contributions reportedly made by the rock band Dropkick Murphys.
Supporters have characterized Sabulaโs actions as a form of protest and free expression, while others have questioned whether his conduct violated workplace policies.
Ford Motor Company and union representatives have not publicly released details regarding the status of the internal investigation or whether disciplinary action beyond the suspension is being considered.
Following his visit to the Dearborn plant, Trump went on to deliver remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, where he had last spoken in October 2024.
The incident continues to draw attention amid broader political debate, as questions remain about workplace discipline, free speech, and the role of political expression in employment settings.