Families Say Negligence Caused Medical Plane Crash That Killed 8 and Left 20 Injured

The families of two victims from the devastating air ambulance crash that killed eight people in Philadelphia earlier this year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging serious negligence by the jet company responsible for the flight.

The complaint, filed Monday, Nov. 17, comes from the estates of pediatrician Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo and Lizeth Murillo Osuna, the mother of a young girl receiving life-saving care at Shriners Children’s Hospital. Both were among the six Mexican nationals aboard Med Jets Flight 056 when it crashed shortly after takeoff on Jan. 31.

According to the lawsuit, the Learjet 55 departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport headed for Tijuana, Mexico. But within about a minute, the jet went down near the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue, exploding on impact. The crash set vehicles and homes on fire and sent debris raining across the neighborhood, leaving bystanders terrified and scrambling for safety.

All six people on board were killed, along with one person on the ground. An eighth victim later died from injuries sustained during the incident. Roughly 20 others were hurt.

The families allege that Arredondo and Osuna endured “severe, disabling, and excruciating injuries” and suffered an “agonizing death” after being trapped in the fireball that erupted when the jet crashed.

Their lawsuit argues that Med Jets failed to ensure the plane was safe to operate, accusing the company of neglecting routine maintenance, not properly training pilots and crew, and failing to operate the aircraft in a safe and responsible manner. They say Med Jets is liable for the deaths and the harm suffered by the victims’ families.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report, released in March, revealed that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder did not function and likely hadn’t worked for years. The flight crew also never made a distress call before the crash. No official cause has been determined.

The lawsuit also points out that another Med Jets aircraft — a Learjet 35A — was involved in a deadly crash in Mexico in November 2023, raising additional concerns about the company’s safety practices.

Attorneys for the families, Jeffrey Goodman and Bob Mongeluzzi, called the filing “an important step” toward accountability. “Much remains to be determined as to the cause of this crash,” they said, noting that the lack of functional recording equipment makes answers harder to uncover. “This litigation will help the victims get the answers as to why their loved ones senselessly died and why an entire community was placed in harm’s way.”