11 Year Old Girl, Who Underwent Life Saving Treatment, And Her Mother, 31, Identified Among 7 Fatalities in Philadelphia Plane Crash

The government of Ensenada has spoken out following the tragic plane crash in Philadelphia that claimed the lives of a young mother and her daughter. Mayor Claudia Agatón Muñiz expressed deep sorrow for the victims, as did Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, who addressed the devastating event on February 1, 2025.

Mayor Parker confirmed that seven people lost their lives in the January 31 crash, including 31-year-old Lizeth Murillo Osuna and her 11-year-old daughter, Valentina Guzmán Murillo, who had been receiving medical treatment. According to a family acquaintance, the child had longstanding health issues, which had brought them to the U.S. for care.

In her statement, Parker acknowledged that at least 19 individuals had been hospitalized in the aftermath, urging residents to rely on official sources such as the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management for updates. Stressing the gravity of the situation, she assured the public that her administration was working closely with the NTSB, along with local, state, and federal authorities, to investigate the cause of the tragedy.

As emergency crews continued their response efforts, Parker thanked those providing aid but urged citizens to remain at home, emphasizing that the crisis was far from over.

Among the victims, the names of Lizeth and Valentina resonated deeply in Ensenada. President Claudia Agatón Muñiz took to Facebook to offer heartfelt condolences to their grieving loved ones. Her message, originally in Spanish, was translated as:

“I deeply mourn the loss of Lizeth Murillo Osuna and Valentina Guzmán Murillo. My sincerest condolences to their family and loved ones.”

In a poignant addition, Muñiz wrote, “From the bottom of my heart, I send my deepest sympathies to all their loved ones. May they find strength and peace during this painful time.”

The government of Ensenada also released an official statement reflecting on the tragedy, acknowledging the immense loss to their community. Officials confirmed that the aircraft had been en route to Tijuana when it crashed, taking the lives of Ensenada residents. In response, the city pledged psychological and grief counseling for affected families, as well as logistical and financial support for the repatriation of the victims’ remains. Mayor Muñiz directed municipal departments to collaborate with state and federal agencies to ensure swift assistance for the bereaved.

Beyond official statements, a family friend of the victims shed light on their journey. César Esparza, whose daughter was Valentina’s classmate, revealed that the young girl had been receiving treatment for a spinal condition at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia since late August. The hospital confirmed that she had struggled to access the necessary medical care in Mexico, though it did not disclose further details. Despite her health challenges, Esparza described Valentina as “a warrior.”

In an emotional tribute, Shriners Children’s Philadelphia honored the mother and daughter in an Instagram post, respecting their privacy while acknowledging the devastating loss. The hospital confirmed that they had been returning home aboard the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance when tragedy struck.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the medical crew and pilots who were also lost in this tragic event—as well as all those affected on the ground. We are grateful to the first responders for their swift action,” the hospital stated.

As the city grappled with the aftermath, officials provided real-time updates, revealing that the number of injured had risen to 22. Five remained hospitalized, three in critical condition. The crash caused major disruptions in Northeast Philadelphia, with road closures forcing students, pedestrians, and SEPTA commuters to reroute. While Roosevelt Boulevard remained open, Cottman Avenue was shut down between Bustleton Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. The Department of Streets coordinated alternative routes to manage the impact.

Investigators from the NTSB arrived at the crash site, working to piece together what went wrong. According to the FAA, the private Learjet 55 crashed just one minute after takeoff from Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. The aircraft carried six people—Lizeth, Valentina, and four crew members, including the pilot, copilot, physician, and paramedic.

Given the severity of the incident, the city scheduled a town hall meeting for Wednesday, where local leaders would address community concerns and provide resources. Businesses affected by road closures were advised to contact the Department of Commerce for assistance.

At a media briefing, Mayor Parker reiterated the city’s commitment to the victims and their families. “This is a profound tragedy for our city. Lives have been lost, and many have been injured in this horrific crash,” she said. Governor Josh Shapiro echoed her sentiments, commending first responders for their rapid efforts and reaffirming Pennsylvania’s full support. The American Red Cross—Southeastern Pennsylvania stepped in to assist displaced residents, while the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services made mental health resources available for those in mourning.

In the days following the crash, a chilling doorbell camera video from Northeast Philadelphia surfaced online, capturing the final moments of the doomed flight. The footage, which quickly went viral, showed two individuals chatting outside when a thunderous boom startled them. They turned just in time to see the aircraft plummeting toward the street, its descent swift and terrifying. A blinding white flash followed the impact, triggering an explosion as bystanders fled for cover.

Online, the video sparked widespread discussion, with many calling it one of the most haunting clips they had ever seen. Speculation ran rampant. Some believed the plane had caught fire before impact, while others noted that one witness seemed to react to an unusual noise just before the crash. One viewer remarked, “I know it was a plane, but it didn’t look like it. It came out of nowhere, like it just dropped straight down. Maybe it was the cloud cover, but it looked so sudden.” Another added, “I can’t even imagine how terrifying that was. My heart goes out to the victims’ families.”

Eyewitness accounts painted a scene of chaos. Selkuc Koc, a server at a nearby diner, described hearing an explosive boom, initially mistaking it for a thunderclap. When he stepped outside, thick smoke and raging flames filled the sky. “It looked like a gas station explosion,” he recalled. The force of the blast sent debris flying into nearby buildings, injuring a diner patron when a large metal fragment crashed through a window.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel emphasized the complexity of the recovery effort. Investigators struggled to confirm the number of victims, as many people had been in the vicinity when the plane went down. The NTSB meticulously combed through the four-to-six-block crash site, gathering wreckage and analyzing the damage. Chair Jennifer Homendy described the crash as “high-impact,” noting that the aircraft had been “highly fragmented.”

One crucial piece of evidence remained elusive—the cockpit voice recorder. Officials feared it had been destroyed or badly damaged in the explosion, but they remained hopeful that it could provide key insights into the plane’s final moments.

Fox News reported that newly released air traffic control recordings from Northeast Philadelphia Airport captured the tense moments leading up to the crash. Controllers repeatedly attempted to contact the Learjet 55, but their calls went unanswered.

“What’s going on down there?” one controller asked. “We lost an aircraft. We don’t know what happened yet. Our job now is to figure it out.” In the aftermath, the airport temporarily shut down all incoming and outgoing flights.

Experts analyzing the footage and flight data suggested multiple possible causes. Retired Philadelphia pilot John Anderson theorized that a stabilizer, elevator, trim malfunction, or a shift in the aircraft’s weight balance could have caused a sudden loss of control. He noted that if a stretcher had not been properly secured, it might have shifted during takeoff, altering the center of gravity and leading to an aerodynamic stall.

“The way the nose pitched down—it suggests a stall,” Anderson explained. “It happened right after takeoff, during the initial climb. It could have been a runaway trim issue or a stabilizer failure. Whatever the cause, the crew had no control.”

As investigators worked to determine the precise cause of the disaster, the world mourned the loss of seven lives, including a mother and her child who had been on their way home.

The tragedy occurred less than 48 hours after another devastating aviation disaster—an American Airlines flight collided with a U.S. Army helicopter at Reagan National Airport, killing 67 people. The back-to-back incidents sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, prompting renewed scrutiny on air safety protocols.