The search for the black box from the air ambulance that plunged into a Philadelphia neighborhood continued Sunday as authorities sought to determine what caused Friday’s tragedy that killed seven people and set a neighborhood aflame.
All six people aboard the plane − a pilot and copilot, two medical personnel, a patient and her mother − died in the crash, authorities said. One person in a car on the ground also was killed.
Claudia Agatón Muñiz, the mayor of Ensenada, Mexico, posted information on social media identifying the patient as local residents Valentina Guzmán Murillo, the pediatric patient, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna. Muñiz said the city would help return the bodies to family members in Ensenada.
The Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a Learjet 55, had flown to Philadelphia from Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport earlier in the day. The plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at about 6:30 p.m. and quickly took a nosedive, slamming into the ground at approximately 300 mph, according to initial reports. The flight was bound for Branson, Missouri, before heading to its destination in Mexico.
Fiery tragedy: Philadelphia plane crashes into ground
Pediatric patient reportedly had spinal condition
Valentina was 11 and her mother was 31, a family friend whose daughter was classmates with Valentina, told The New York Times. César Esparza said Valentina had been treated at Shriners Children’s in Philadelphia since the end of August for multiple medical issues stemming from a spinal condition.
The hospital has declined to provide details citing patient privacy rights but has said in a statement it was hard to find treatment for her condition in Mexico.
Some debris from the Learjet 55 crash remained on the streets in Northeast Philadelphia on Feb. 1, 2025.
Death toll could still rise
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said Sunday that it was not clear how many people were displaced by the fire that roared through the neighborhood, damaging or destroying almost a dozen homes. Over 20 people were injured and five people remained hospitalized Sunday, she said. No number on the missing was released. The city will host a town hall meeting for residents of the area Wednesday evening, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Elizabeth Rodriguez told the Inquirer she has family living inside the section of neighborhood that was closed off by a secured police perimeter.
“They have two kids inside, at least their power is back,” Rodriguez said.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Child patient, her mom identified in Philadelphia air ambulance crash