NTSB Locates Cockpit Voice Recorder From Fatal Learjet Crash in Philadelphia

Seven people were killed and at least 366 properties were affected when the medical aircraft came down in a northeast neighborhood of the city.

Wednesday, February 05, 2025 at 04:59 PM ET

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NTSB investigators document the scene of the January 31 Learjet 55 crash in Philadelphia. [Credit: National Transportation Safety Board]

Key Takeaways:

A Learjet 55 medical aircraft crashed into a northeast Philadelphia neighborhood, killing seven people (all six aboard and one motorist) and injuring 24.
The crash affected 366 properties, destroying four homes and causing extensive fires in a commercial and residential area.
The NTSB has recovered the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS), which are being sent for evaluation along with the recovered engines.
A preliminary report from the NTSB investigation, which includes collected surveillance videos and witness statements, is expected within 30 days.

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Seven people were killed and at least 366 properties affected when a Learjet 55 medical aircraft crashed into a northeast Philadelphia neighborhood minutes after taking off Friday evening, according to city officials.

The aircraft crashed into a commercial and residential area at 6:06 p.m. EDT shortly after it departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE), killing all six people aboard the aircraft and one motorist on the ground. An additional 24 people were injured and four homes destroyed in the incident, city officials said Tuesday.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.