*This post will continue to be updated as new information becomes available. Check back frequently*
Are you a resident or business and have questions related to your recovery? Find assistance on property concerns, donations, community outreach, tax questions, replacing documents, scam awareness, health and wellness resources, and more on the City’s Resource Assistance Directory.
Recent Updates
February 6, 2025
Access to Property
Residents and businesses can return to their property. If you need access assistance or would like an escort from the Fire Department, they have stationed a Community Action Team (CAT) unit in the Roosevelt Mall parking lot to help residents. If you live in the 7200 block of Calvert, Rupert, Leonard, Hanford, or Bradford streets and need to access your home, please call (267) 250-8046 to request an escort. Make sure you leave your name, number, and address. We know it’s hard revisiting the scene of tragedy, and it’s especially hard when that scene is your home.
Disaster Recovery Donations
The Parker Administration, in partnership with the Philadelphia City Fund, has created the One Philly Fund to help those recovering from disasters in Philadelphia. The One Philly Fund will initially provide direct support to victims of the plane crash incident on Friday, January 31. You can learn more and support by visiting www.philacityfund.org/onephilly
Document Replacement
The Register of Wills, John P. Sabatina, announced free document replacement services for essential records that have been destroyed or damaged by the crash. Documents available from the Register of Wills include marriage records, pending probate documents, and other records managed by the Register of Wills
If you or a loved one have lost important legal documents due to this disaster, please contact the Register of Wills office or your elected representative in City Council, Pennsylvania Senate, or Pennsylvania House of Representatives for assistance. For more information, visit www.phila.gov/wills or call 215-686-6250.
Real Estate Tax Adjustment
You may qualify for a Real Estate Tax Adjustment after a catastrophic loss. Damaged properties may qualify for a reduced property assessment. Impacted property owners should complete the application for a catastrophic loss real estate tax adjustment and return the form to the Office of Property Assessment (OPA)
Return in person or by mail:
Office of Property Assessment
601 Walnut St., Suite 300 W.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Return by email: abatements@phila.gov
Property owners who are struggling to file or pay on time as a result of the incident can reach out to Revenue for assistance at revenuetaxadvisors@phila.gov.
Scam Awareness
Residents and businesses should be aware and cautious of potential scams while fixing their damaged property. Property owners who feel that there was an attempt or have been victimized may file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting the website, emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling the office at 1-800-441-2555. Read more from the Attorney General’s office about avoiding home improvement scams.
February 5, 2025
Cottman Avenue Reopens
Cottman Avenue has reopened between Roosevelt Boulevard and Bustleton Avenue. There are lane restrictions as work continues at the incident scene. Please use caution traveling. Follow public safety direction and traffic devices. Expect delays.
Damage Report Survey
If your property was affected by the plane crash, the Office of Emergency Management would like to hear from you. Please take a short survey located at www.phila.gov/damagereporter to help OEM determine the areas and extent of damage. Dial 3-1-1 to complete your damage survey over the phone.
Multi-Agency Resource Center
The City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, and partners will operate a Multi-Agency Resource Center Thursday, February 6.
The MARC will serve as a one-stop location for residents to access different services to help in their recovery. Residents can find assistance with replacement of important documents and identification, how to document damages, answering insurance questions, benefits and disabilities support, housing guidance, clothing and goods vouchers, tax assistance, mental health care, avoiding scams, and other recovery information.
Find more details on time, location, and agencies available for assistance.
Resident and Business Town Hall
Reminder, the Northeast Emergency Community Impact Town Hall with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City officials is tonight, 7 p.m. at S. Solis-Cohen Elementary School, 7001 Horrocks St, Philadelphia, PA 19149. The Parker Administration will provide information about the crash to residents, along with links to services that they may need.
Roosevelt Mall Reopens
Property management of the Roosevelt Mall announced that it would reopen today at noon.
Street Reopens
Police have opened the perimeter at Saint Vincent Street for resident or property owner local access only. Cottman Avenue remains closed at this time.
February 4, 2025
Fels High School Shelter Closed
The temporary shelter that opened at Samuel Fels High School and run by the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region, with support from the Office of Emergency Management, School District of Philadelphia, and the Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia, has closed as residents transitioned to other housing.
Also, in response to this tragedy, the Red Cross provided approximately 80 additional blood products to meet the needs of those injured in this crash.
Support, resources, and services from the Red Cross and City will continue.
The Red Cross will have resources available on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the American Red Cross location at 1401 Rhawn Street in Northeast Philadelphia. In addition, Red Cross resources will also be available Wednesday evening at the Northeast Emergency Community Impact Town Hall at S. Solis-Cohen Elementary School, 7001 Horrocks St., Philadelphia. The event begins at 7 p.m.
Everyone affected by this tragedy, including those who live, work or were traveling through the area at the time, are welcome to speak with the Red Cross about available resources, including emotional support. Residents whose homes were damaged can also connect with a Red Cross caseworker about additional resources which may be available to them.
If you need help and are not able to come in person, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to be connected with these resources.
L&I
14 homes were impacted by the plane crash. As of right now, 3 are considered imminently dangerous, unsafe for entry of any kind and the rest are considered unsafe. The unsafe properties are facade or roof damage from flying debris but overall safe to walk in. All posted houses had cases created in eCLIPSE to issue violations and document damage from debris or fires. The homes impacted were in the 72-hundred block of Calvert Street, 72-hundred block of Rupert, 72-hundred block of Leonard and 72-hundred block of Hanford/24-hundred block of Cottman (residence/business.)
Our Clean and Seal team will begin sealing of open properties to prevent trespass this week.
National Transportation Safety Board
Today, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completed their onsite work in Northeast Philadelphia at the crash site. Great progress is being made in the investigation and work on the ground has advanced at a faster pace than initially anticipated. However, there is still considerable work to be done in the investigation outside of the crash site and the scene remains active. To follow progress in the NTSB’s investigation, visit their website ntsb.gov
“We’ve witnessed an incredible amount of teamwork with NTSB,” said Managing Director Adam K. Thiel. “The fact we have been able to complete this work on-site given the scope and size of the scene, is a real testament to both the NTSB’s professionalism and their expertise, as well as the partnerships with other federal agencies and all of the City’s departments. It has really been one team working together to process this crash site as we help the NTSB get to the next phase, which will continue to be a long, thorough investigation.”
Philadelphia Police Department
The forensics investigation, led by the Philadelphia Police Department, continues to work with their partners and is also starting to move off-site, so the City can start to restore the area of this tragic incident back to activity, but not normalcy since that will take a long time. The forensic work will also continue and PPD will offer updates when there is news to report.
Streets Department
The Department of Streets crews began repairing damage to Cottman Avenue’s roadway infrastructure and anticipate a partial opening to pedestrian and vehicular traffic very soon. Crews from across our divisions have repaired and replaced street signs, traffic signals, and streetlights. Roadway repair and cleaning will continue through tomorrow morning.
The impacted site, sections of sidewalk, and some nearby businesses and residences will remain closed. Even as traffic returns to Cottman Avenue this investigation and repair work will continue. All roadway users, whether you are walking or driving, please use caution and follow any posted guidance.
February 3, 2025
Cottman Avenue
Cottman Avenue between Bustleton Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard remain completely closed, including sidewalks. Additionally, the Roosevelt Mall and parking lots remain closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Pedestrians can now cross Roosevelt Boulevard via Cottman Avenue Bridge. However, you cannot walk through the Roosevelt Mall or the mall parking lots. Pedestrians are encouraged to use Friendship Street and Bleigh Avenue for pedestrian access to Bustleton Avenue in lieu of Cottman Avenue.
SEPTA bus stops on Roosevelt Boulevard at Cottman Avenue are open.
Drivers should consider the following nearby roadways to detour around the Cottman Avenue closure:
- Ryan Avenue/Borbeck Avenue to the north on Roosevelt Boulevard
- Rhawn Street to the north on Roosvelt Boulevard
- Tyson Avenue to the south on Roosevelt Boulevard
- Harbison Avenue to the south on Roosevelt Boulevard
Business owners and employees looking to access their workplace inside the response zone, from Bustleton Avenue to the Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue to the mall storefronts, can gain access to their location. You can enter the area via the southbound outer lane of Roosevelt Boulevard at the Macy’s entrance. From there, a Philadelphia Police escort will take you to the place of business. Anyone seeking access must produce identification prior to being escorted.
Northeast Emergency Community Impact Town Hall with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City Officials will take place Wednesday, February 5th at 7 p.m. at S. Solis-Cohen Elementary School, 7001 Horrocks St, Philadelphia, PA 19149. The Parker Administration will provide information about the crash to residents, along with links to services that they may need.
The City of Philadelphia today continued to share updates on the plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia that happened on Friday, January 31. This continues to be an ongoing investigation and the scene remains active.
The City and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker were joined in Northeast Philadelphia by U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as they were briefed, toured the impact site, and hosted a press conference to share the latest information with the public.
Mayor Parker, Secretary Duffy and Governor Shapiro walked the crash site along Cottman Avenue near the Roosevelt Boulevard, examined the plane’s impact crater, and attended a briefing with Philadelphia Police, the Office of Emergency Management, Philadelphia Fire Department, the Managing Director’s Office, Department of Streets and other investigators.
During the briefing, Mayor Parker updated on the current number of casualties and injuries from the plane crash. Six people aboard a Learjet died in the crash. They were all Mexican citizens. A seventh person, a motorist, has died as well.
A total of 24 persons were injured in the crash. Four remain in the hospital. Two are in critical condition, and two were upgraded to stable condition overnight.
Road Closures & Openings
As the response and investigation continue, road closures are in effect and will continue to be subject to change. Following updates are as of the evening of Monday, February 3:
- Roosevelt Boulevard: All lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard are now OPEN in both directions.
- Cottman Avenue: Portions of Cottman Avenue remain CLOSED due to the ongoing investigation. The City and its partners continue to make resources and services available to the victims and those impacted by the crash and will continue to assess the need for additional resources as the response continues. At this time the following resources and services are available:
Mental Health Services
Mental health services are available through the City’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS) for anyone impacted. Call 988 or visit DBHIDS.org.
Shelter
The City Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region are operating a 24-hour shelter for those impacted at Samuel Fels High School, located at 5500 Langdon Street in Northeast Philadelphia. Red Cross disaster workers are there to assist anyone who’s been displaced by this tragedy. At this time, donations are not being accepted. *This shelter has closed as of February 4th, 6 p.m.
Public Transit Service Impacts
Due to impacts to SEPTA bus routes there are currently detours in place. Passengers may experience delays and cancellations. Detours will be posted, and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page online at septa.org. SEPTA Customer Service can be reached at 215-580-7800 and directly on X (formerly Twitter) @septa_social.
Schools
All School District schools in the area are open. School officials say that students will be excused the incident delays their daily commute to school. No charter schools were impacted at all.
Property Damage Assistance
Services are available for those who experienced property damage. Property owners can call the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region at 1-800-Red-Cross for property damage support or for help in filing a claim.
February 2, 2025
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All lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard are open to vehicular traffic
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Cottman Avenue remains fully closed between Bustleton Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, this includes sidewalks and the Cottman Avenue bridge over the Boulevard.
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This closure means that pedestrians, including students, SEPTA commuters, and residents who normally use Cottman Avenue will need to consider using an alternate pedestrian route or mode of travel.
- Friendship Street signalized pedestrian crossing, 1,000 feet south of Cottman Avenue.
- SEPTA riders traveling south on Roosevelt Boulevard should exit the bus at or near the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Bleigh Avenue or Roosevelt Boulevard and Friendship Street. Bleigh Avenue and Friendship Street will be the alternate pedestrian travel routes to access Bustleton Avenue.
- SEPTA riders traveling north on Roosevelt Boulevard should exit the bus at Friendship Street and use the signalized pedestrian crossing to cross Roosevelt Boulevard. Friendship Street will be the alternate pedestrian travel route to Bustleton Avenue.
- Please check SEPTA for current delays and detours in the area.
Business Support
The City’s Department of Commerce is working to assist local businesses. Businesses that have property damage or operational challenges due to local road closures can contact the Department of Commerce’s Mayor’s Business Action Team by calling 215-683-2100 or emailing business@phila.gov
The National Transportation Safety Board is now on site with a full staff complement and their job will be to find the cause of this terrible incident.
The number of injured victims has risen to 22 people. Five victims remain hospitalized – three of them are critical. At least seven people perished in this tragedy, and the investigation is ongoing.
The City will host a Town Hall to answer the Northeast Philadelphia community’s questions and provide resources on Wednesday, February 5 at 7 p.m. Location will be announced soon.
The School District Of Philadelphia says there will be no school closures. Students and staff will receive a note – delays due to the incident will be excused. No Charter schools were impacted by the incident.
February 1, 2025
Today at 11:45 a.m., Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, with Managing Director Adam K. Thiel, Governor Josh Shapiro and other City, State and Federal officials held a media briefing near the crash site in Northeast Philadelphia to update the public with new details about the tragic crash and loss of life, as well as damage to the property in the four-to-five block area perimeter. A press release on the City website provides information that was shared at the briefing. The City’s first blog post in this update series provides the first facts available about the crash’s impact. This post provides some new information.
“We can confirm there are a number of victims who were injured in this incident, and they are being treated at area hospitals – as many as 19 injured victims,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker at the media briefing.
“Today we learned that a seventh person lost their life in this devastating event that has stunned the many citizens living in Northeast Philadelphia, specifically, the neighborhoods experiencing the most trauma following the crash,” said Mayor Parker.
The seventh victim was driving a car very close to where the plane crashed. The car was ignited into fire. The two other people in the car are currently in the hospital with severe, life-threatening injuries.
Managing Director Thiel advised that a number of agencies are working collaboratively as they are pouring over the crash site to search for additional debris and information about the people lost in the crash and others who may be injured or have information. Thiel said it will take weeks to do a thorough search of the area, but all teams will work diligently to get traffic flowing in the area as soon as possible, power restored and businesses back up and running.
An updated resources list be found in the February 1 press release and below.
Results of the investigation will be shared on this blog post as they are received by the City.
A devastating plane crash occurred in Northeast Philadelphia near Roosevelt Mall at Cottman and Bustleton Avenues on Friday evening, January 31, 2025, at approximately 6:10 p.m. A private Learjet 55 – a medical transportation jet – departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport with two passengers, a mother and daughter, and four crew members were killed in the tragic crash. As more information is released about the reason for the crash, this blog will be updated.
According to the FAA, the aircraft was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, with a final destination in Mexico where the young child being treated for illness at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia lives. Flight logs show the plane was in the air for only a minute before it crashed.
Many people on the ground – in parking lots, on streets, in cars and homes in the area – were injured; the number of injured is yet to be released but the information shared at this time reports that a number of people were transported to a local hospital. Others may have been transported to other hospitals but since there is an investigation underway and emergency operation, the number of people and the status of their injuries is yet to be released and further information about where they were transported is not yet available. The blog will be updated with that information as it is available.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker held a press briefing quickly after arriving the scene at 7 p.m. to give the public as much information that was available immediately; the Mayor was joined soon after by Governor Josh Shapiro and other City, State and Federal officials and provided a media update at 9:45 p.m. to provide additional details obtained.
“This is a tragedy in our city – people have lost their lives and many injured in this horrific crash and the damage is significant,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Our prayers are with the families, friends, neighbors and all of those impacted by the tragic crash. We are unified in our approach – a One Philly philosophy with all hands-on deck. I am so grateful for the rapid response by our Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments, our Office of Emergency Management and Philadelphia Gas Works with federal, state, and local first responders who swarmed the scene in collaboration with all first responders on the ground.”
“This is when you see the best of Philly,” said Governor Josh Shapiro, who promised full support from the State of Pennsylvania. He was joined by teams of State troopers, PennDot and the State’s Department of Environmental Protection.
A Shelter at Samuel Fels High School, located at 5500 Langdon Street here in Northeast Philadelphia, is being operated by our Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross – Southeastern Pennsylvania. Red Cross disaster workers are there to assist anyone who’s been displaced by this tragedy. People have already begun using the shelter – and we encourage anyone who needs this service to avail themselves.
Resources for Residents Affected by the January 31st Aircraft Crash
Call 1-800 Red Cross for property damage or for help in filing a claim. If you need assistance other than Shelter today, for now, call 911.
Outages:
- PECO: 1-800-841-4141
- PGW: 215-235-1212
- Water Department: 215-685-6300
Road Closures:
- Cottman Ave: Between Bustleton and Brous Aves
- Roosevelt Boulevard: Outer lanes from Rhawn St to Tyson Aves
- St. Vincent St: Between Bustleton and Castor Aves
Mental Health:
For people living in this community, watching the news, or on social media, this is traumatic. There are resources available through the City’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services. Visit their website www.DBHIDS.org or you can call to speak to someone at 215-685-6440.
Faith Based Concerns:
Contact Bishop Wilfred Speakes at 267-246-8677 or Imam Quaiser Abdullah at 215-823-9782 from the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Affairs.
Community Engagement:
Contact Basil Lester at 215-873-3743, District 6 Manager, Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement.
Residents impacted by the aircraft incident can text RECOVERPHL to 888-777 to get the latest updates and information sent straight to their phones.
The City will continue to provide updates on this blog. Follow the Office of Emergency Management on X (formerly Twitter) for urgent updates and notifications.
