Small plane crash sparks fire in northeast Philadelphia

A small plane crashed on Friday into a neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia, sparking a large fire, authorities said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially reported two people aboard the plane, but later updated the number to six. It's unclear whether the passengers were ejected or managed to escape. Several people on the ground were reported to have been injured.

The Learjet 55, en route from Philadelphia to Springfield, Missouri, had just taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport when the crash occurred, the FAA said in a statement. The plane came down in a busy intersection near Roosevelt Mall in a densely populated residential area, setting multiple homes and cars on fire.

Emergency crews are on the scene, CBS News reported.

"We are offering all resources as (emergency services) respond to the small private plane crash in Northeast Philly," Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote on the social platform X. "We'll continue to provide updates as more information is available."

The FAA confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash.

The incident occurred just days after a deadly collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., which claimed 67 lives, marking the deadliest aviation accident in the United States since 2009.

"So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged," U.S. President Donald Trump said of the crash.

(With input from agencies)