Local News
Video shows person on fire after small plane crashes outside Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia
A small private jet crashed in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, resulting in multiple casualties and widespread destruction, according to local officials.
The exact number of fatalities has not yet been confirmed, though reports from the scene indicate at least one death, with body parts visible among the wreckage.
Several injured individuals have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The incident occurred approximately 30 seconds after the aircraft took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, located less than three miles from the crash site.
The plane, identified as a Learjet 55 registered to a medical transport company operating as Med Jets, was en route to Springfield, Missouri.
Flight data indicates the jet departed at 6:06 p.m., reaching an altitude of 1,600 feet before it vanished from radar.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged the tragedy in a statement, pledging full support from state resources. โWe are offering all Commonwealth resources as they respond to the small private plane crash in Northeast Philly,โ Shapiro said.
The plane went down near a busy intersection close to Roosevelt Mall in the Rhawnhurst neighborhood, igniting multiple homes and vehicles.
Witnesses described a scene of devastation, with fires raging in residential areas and emergency responders working to control the blaze.
Michael Schiavone, 37, a resident of the nearby Mayfair neighborhood, recalled the terrifying moment. โI was sitting at home when I heard a loud bang, and the house shook like an earthquake,โ he said.
Upon reviewing footage from his home security camera, Schiavone described the planeโs descent as resembling a missile. โThere was a large explosionโI thought we were under attack for a second.โ
Philadelphiaโs Office of Emergency Management confirmed road closures in the affected area as first responders secured the scene.
Cellphone footage captured moments after the crash revealed debris scattered across the intersection, with flames and thick black smoke rising into the sky.
The video also captured the sounds of sirens and distressed onlookers, highlighting the panic and confusion in the immediate aftermath.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that two people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation and is currently gathering information to determine the cause of the accident.
This incident remains a developing story, with authorities expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the cityโs historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vesselโs emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. โ Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucesterโs historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucesterโthe nationโs oldest working fishing portโactivated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. โShe put her heart and soul into this opportunity,โ family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucesterโs close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vesselโs owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. โI hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,โ she said. โThis is heartbreaking.โ
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucesterโs deep fishing heritage. โGloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,โ Tarr said. โIt appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.โ
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was โheartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,โ adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victimsโ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: โThe salt has been in our blood for generationsโฆ A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.โ
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series NorโEaster Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New Englandโs commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victimsโ families and Gloucesterโs fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.