A Learjet with two people aboard crashed near a shopping center in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday night, causing multiple casualties, sending a large fireball into the air and engulfing a stretch of road in flames, the authorities said.
The plane left the Northeast Philadelphia Airport and was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it crashed about three miles away at about 6:30 p.m. near Cottman and Bustleton Avenues in Northeast Philadelphia, across from Roosevelt Mall, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Mike Driscoll, a City Council member representing the area, said in a message on X that “mass casualties” were reported. The number of casualties and their conditions were unavailable.
Killiom Pontes, 38, a manager of a cellphone store less than a mile from the crash site, said in an interview that the impact had caused the windows of the business to shake.
“‘What the hell just happened?’” Mr. Pontes recalled saying to himself. “At first, I thought it was an earthquake, but then we saw the big boom.”
Mr. Pontes said he got into his car and drove to scene, which he described as a busy commercial area. He started recording an Instagram Live video of flames and debris.
“I saw a big hole in the ground,” he said. “I was in shock how much debris there was.”
Alain Delaquérière contributed research.