A tragic plane crash in Philadelphia last week claimed the lives of seven people, including a young girl from Mexico who had traveled to the U.S. for medical treatment. The devastating incident has left families and communities mourning their loved ones.
The 10-year-old girl, Valentina Murillo Ozuna, was on a medical transport flight with her mother, Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, heading back to Mexico after receiving treatment for a spinal condition at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Sadly, both Valentina and her mother lost their lives in the crash. The aircraft, carrying four crew members along with the mother and daughter, took off from Northeastern Philadelphia just after 6 p.m. last Friday. Unfortunately, the plane was only in the air for about a minute before crashing into a nearby neighborhood, killing everyone on board and one person on the ground.
The crash also caused injuries to at least 24 people on the ground, according to local officials. Among the injured was 10-year-old Andre Howard, who was hit by burning debris while sitting in a car with his family near Roosevelt Mall. His parents, Andre Howard Sr. and Lashawn Hamiel, described the terrifying moment in an interview with ABC’s WPVI. Andre Sr. recalled hearing what sounded like a car crash before seeing flames and debris flying everywhere. He tried to shield his children from the wreckage, but his son was struck by a piece of metal from the plane.
A bystander quickly took off his shirt to press against Andre’s head to stop the bleeding. A Philadelphia police officer then rushed him to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He was later transferred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Initially, doctors feared that he might never walk again, but his condition has been improving.
The tragedy has deeply affected the organization that helped arrange Valentina’s medical transport. Susan Marie Fasino, the founder of His Wings Ranch, expressed her devastation in an interview, calling the crash painful and heartbreaking for everyone involved.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The accident came just two days after another aviation disaster, in which an American Airlines flight approaching Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., collided with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter. That crash resulted in the deaths of all 64 people on the plane and three on the helicopter.
The Philadelphia community continues to grieve and support those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.
