March 2025 Update: Why Didn't The NTSB Find A Voice Recording From The Fatal Philadelphia Medical Jet Crash?

What New Information Does The Preliminary Report Reveal About The January Disaster?

The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary investigation findings last Thursday regarding the January 31 Learjet 55 crash in Philadelphia that killed seven people and injured 24 others. Investigators discovered the cockpit voice recorder buried under eight feet of debris but determined it likely hadn’t been recording audio for years. The medical transport jet, registered in Mexico, crashed into a residential neighborhood shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, scattering debris over a 1,400-foot area and damaging multiple homes, businesses, and vehicles.

5 Key Points

• A medical transport Learjet 55 crashed in Philadelphia on January 31, 2025, killing all six people onboard and one person on the ground.
• Flight data shows the aircraft climbed to 1,650 feet before entering a left turn and rapidly descending to 1,275 feet at 242 knots.
• The pilots made no distress calls before the plane crashed.
• The cockpit voice recorder was recovered but had likely not recorded audio for years.
• The aircraft’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System has been sent to its manufacturer for data evaluation.

What Flight Path Did The Medical Transport Jet Follow Before Crashing?

According to the NTSB preliminary report, the Learjet 55 departed from Runway 24 at Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:06 p.m. on January 31. The aircraft climbed to an altitude of 1,650 feet before entering a left turn and descending rapidly. The last recorded data showed the aircraft at 1,275 feet altitude and traveling at 242 knots. The pilots made no distress calls before the crash occurred.

How Extensive Was The Damage At The Philadelphia Crash Site?

The NTSB report indicates the medical transport jet crashed into a sidewalk in a residential neighborhood shortly after takeoff. Surveillance footage captured a large explosion at the crash site. Debris from the aircraft was scattered over a 1,400-foot area, causing damage to multiple homes, businesses, and vehicles. The crash resulted in seven fatalities – all six people onboard the aircraft and one person on the ground. Twenty-four others sustained injuries in the incident.

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What Evidence Have NTSB Investigators Recovered From The Wreckage?

Investigators recovered the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder, which was buried under eight feet of debris. However, the preliminary report states that it likely had not been recording audio for years, limiting the available evidence from the cockpit. The aircraft’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) has been shipped to its manufacturer for evaluation to determine if any relevant flight data can be recovered.

What Was The Purpose Of The Aircraft’s Journey When It Crashed?

According to the NTSB report, the Learjet 55 was operating as an air ambulance flight when the accident occurred. The aircraft was registered in Mexico and was on a flight from Northeast Philadelphia Airport to Springfield, Missouri, when it crashed shortly after takeoff.