The Philippine Consulate in New York announced on Saturday that there are no confirmed reports of Filipino nationals being affected by the recent plane crash in northeast Philadelphia.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the consulate said it is closely monitoring the aftermath of the crash, which occurred near Cottman and Roosevelt Boulevard. The aircraft, a small medevac plane, was carrying six people when it went down in a densely populated area.
“At this time, there have been no confirmed reports of Filipino nationals impacted by the incident,” the advisory stated. The consulate is coordinating with local authorities and Filipino community organizations to verify if any Filipinos were among the victims.
New York Consul General Senen Mangalile assured that the consulate is prepared to assist any affected Filipinos and encouraged the community to reach out via their emergency hotline if needed.
The crash site is located near a branch of a popular Filipino fast-food chain, heightening concerns within the Filipino community in the area.
According to Reuters, the medevac plane, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, crashed on Friday with four crew members, a pediatric patient, and the patient’s escort on board. The company has not confirmed any survivors.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that the crash, which occurred near Roosevelt Mall, resulted in multiple fires involving houses and cars. The site remains an active investigation scene, and residents are urged to avoid the area and report any debris to authorities.
The Learjet 55 had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it crashed shortly after 6:30 p.m. Cold, rainy weather and low visibility may have contributed to the accident.
This tragedy comes just days after a fatal collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people, marking the deadliest air crash in the U.S. since 2009.