Philadelphia plane crash probe gains momentum with discovery of black box

PHILADELPHIA ? Four people injured when an air ambulance plummeted into a neighborhood here last week remained hospitalized Monday, and the investigation into the tragedy remains "fluid and active," Mayor Cherelle Parker said.

All six people on the plane and one person in a car on the ground were killed in Friday's crash. Twenty-four people in bustling Northeast Philadelphia were injured. Parker, speaking at a briefing Monday, said two of those hospitalized remained in critical condition after Friday's fiery wreck that set cars ablaze and damaged more than a dozen homes and businesses.

"We know Philadelphia will recover from this tragedy," Parker said. "We are in Northeast where people are Northeast strong. We will continue to look after each other the way Philadelphians do with our One Philly philosophy as our foundation."

Trump-appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lauded the efforts of Parker, a Democrat, and first responders in the city. Gov. Josh Shapiro, once viewed as a leading contender for the Democratic Party's 2024 vice presidential nomination, credited Duffy with quickly providing assistance after the crash.

"I know oftentimes folks like to find division in ranks, division in our politics. There is no division here," Shapiro said. "Everybody rolling in the same direction, everybody working together, everyone making sure that that thin line between danger and safety is understood."

The crash impact sent a massive fireball into the air and debris flying throughout the busy area near the Roosevelt Mall, a shopping center surrounded by homes and other businesses. The cockpit voice recorder was recovered Sunday, found at a depth of 8 feet in the crater left by the plane's impact. National Transportation Safety Board investigators also recovered the enhanced ground proximity warning system, which could contain data from the short flight Friday.

The NTSB said a preliminary report, expected within a month, will contain "factual information" gathered in the early stages of the investigation. A final report that should include the probable cause of the crash will be issued in 12 to 24 months.

Black box recovered: Could contain key info on air ambulance crash

Crash came 2 days after tragedy outside Washington, DC

The crash occurred moments after the medical transport plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, bound for Branson, Missouri, and then Mexico.

The tragedy came two days after a passenger jet and an Army helicopter collided in the skies near Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, killing all 64 people on the plane and the three aboard the helicopter. Investigation of that crash is continuing, and Duffy has made multiple media appearances to assure travelers that the skies are safe.

Victims on helicopter identified

The Jet Rescue Air Ambulance medical flight included the pilots, a medical crew and a girl, identified as Valentina Guzman Murillo, who had been treated at Shriners Children's Philadelphia for a spinal condition. Her mother, Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, was also on the plane.

Jet Rescue identified the pilots and medical crew aboard the Learjet on Sunday. They include Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales; copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez; Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo; and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla.

Philadelphia officials have not released the name of a seventh person on the ground, who died after their car was hit with debris.

Crash brought destruction to Philadelphia neighborhood

At least 11 homes in the area of the crash have "significant damage" along with multiple businesses, officials said. The Federal Aviation Administration, Bureau of Alcolhol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI remain in the city trying to determine why the Learjet fell from the sky.

"It's in times of crisis you should remember who you are," Parker said at a briefing Sunday. "We are a strong people. A resilient people who understand how and why we take care of each other."

Contributing: Jo Ciavaglia and Chris Ullery, Bucks County Courier Times

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Philadelphia plane crash: Black box found; victim identities revealed