A rainy night, a crashed plane, and in the chaotic aftermath, ‘you see the best of Philly’ | Editorial
A week of contrasts as average Philadelphians, first responders, and local and state officials stepped up. While in Washington, all the president could do was punch down.
The plane that plummeted from the sky in Northeast Philadelphia marked a deadly end to a grim week. But the story that unfolded served as a needed reminder of the city’s shared humanity.
It was rush hour on a cold and rainy Friday night when a Learjet 55 crashed a minute after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The plane was transporting an 11-year-old girl and her 31-year-old mother home to Mexico.
The girl had just completed four months of treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and likely could not wait to get back to her own bed.
The doctors and medical staff at Shriners did their part to help a southern neighbor — because that’s what America at its best does for others who are less fortunate and in need. Such acts of kindness have long helped to define the nation’s exceptionalism.
No one could have imagined the horror and heroism that came after the plane crashed near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue, the crossroads of a diverse, proud section of the city affectionately known as the Great Northeast.
The fireball that lit up the night sky was captured on home security systems and dashboard cameras. Windows were blown out of 11 two-story, redbrick homes. Scores of businesses were damaged, and cars on the ground were burned down to their mangled frames.
The six people aboard the medical jet — the copilots, two doctors, the girl, and her mother — all died. A 37-year-old father from Mount Airy who was driving on Cottman Avenue was also killed. His son was among 22 who were injured.
Even as burning debris was scattered across four to five blocks, some people exited their cars and homes to help those in distress. City fire, police, and rescue personnel also rushed to the scene.
Within an hour, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker provided the first of the ongoing updates, asked for everyone’s prayers, and said it was an “all hands on deck” moment.
That proved to be an understatement, as many stepped up.
SEPTA crews worked to reroute buses. Peco and Philadelphia Gas Works also worked to restore heat and power to surrounding homes and businesses.
The Red Cross and Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management provided shelter at a local high school for those displaced from their homes.
The Philadelphia School District offered counselors for traumatized students. Others could receive mental health assistance by calling 988 or going to dbhids.org.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived and recovered the cockpit voice recorder as their probe into what went wrong continued.
Gov. Josh Shapiro was joined by teams from the state police, PennDot, and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection and offered any resources from the commonwealth.
“This is when you see the best of Philly,” Shapiro said.
It was impossible not to notice how the response by city and state leaders stood in stark contrast to President Donald Trump’s handling just two days earlier of a deadly midair collision between a plane and helicopter in Washington.
Even as crews worked to recover dozens of bodies from the icy waters of the Potomac River, Trump made the asinine claim — with no supporting facts or evidence — that diversity, equity, and inclusivity initiatives implemented by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden were to blame for the crash.
While shocking, it was not surprising. In times of tragedy and crisis, Trump cannot help but divide and deride. But while the president was pointing fingers, everyone in Philadelphia was joining hands.
We can look to the shared humanity in Northeast Philly for some solace during these dark days.