Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Feb 1: As the US grappled with the aftermath of a devastating mid-air collision in Washington DC that claimed 67 lives, another aviation disaster struck on Friday evening when a small aircraft crashed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, igniting multiple homes.
Local reports confirmed that the aircraft was a medical flight carrying six people. According to CBS News, the crash sparked fires in a residential neighbourhood near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. Witnesses on social media reported seeing an orange flash near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping center surrounded by homes.
Emergency dispatches indicated that the aircraft went down near the 7200 block of Calvert Street shortly after 6 pm authorities have yet to confirm casualties or the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, in Washington DC, officials announced they had recovered 41 bodies from the wreckage of the mid-air collision involving an American Airlines flight and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The passenger plane, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, was on its landing approach to Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with the military aircraft.
The American Airlines jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the Black Hawk had three US service personnel on board. Following the tragic incident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has suspended helicopter flights over the Potomac River, which runs near the airport.
Authorities continue to investigate both air disasters as the nation mourns the loss of lives in a tragic week for US aviation.