On the evening of Friday, January 31, the city of Philadelphia was rocked by a devastating tragedy when Medical Jet Flight 56, a Learjet 55, crashed in Northeast Philadelphia. The crash, which occurred at 6:07 p.m. on the 2300 block of Cottman Avenue, claimed the lives of seven individuals, including those on board the flight and one person on the ground. The incident has left the city in shock as officials work to uncover the full scope of the tragedy.
Five days after the crash, authorities have now confirmed the identity of the seventh victim, who was tragically killed on the ground during the collision. 37-year-old Steven Dreuitt of Philadelphia was found deceased inside one of the vehicles on Cottman Avenue, where the plane made its fatal impact. First responders quickly arrived at the scene, where they discovered multiple vehicles involved in the crash, and a deceased individual was located inside one of the cars.
Medical examiners confirmed Dreuitt’s identity, marking him as the seventh person to lose their life as a result of the crash. The loss of Dreuitt, a local resident, adds an additional layer of heartbreak to this already devastating event, as his death was directly caused by the plane’s collision with the ground.
The victims on board Medical Jet Flight 56 were all Mexican citizens. The identities of the individuals aboard the flight were confirmed by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance and are as follows: Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, the pilot; Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, the co-pilot; Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, a physician; Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, a paramedic; Valentina Guzman Murillo, a patient being transported for medical treatment; and Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, the patient’s mother. Each of these individuals tragically lost their lives when the plane crashed, with the plane’s impact on the ground exacerbating the devastation.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. On Sunday, investigators made a critical discovery when they recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the wreckage. The CVR was found at the site of the initial impact, buried at a depth of 8 feet. The recorder could provide crucial insight into the moments leading up to the crash, and investigators are hopeful that the data will help piece together what happened during the ill-fated flight.
Additionally, the NTSB also recovered the enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS), a flight data recorder that could contain valuable information regarding the flight’s operations and performance during its final moments. Investigators are now working to analyze both pieces of equipment, as they search for answers that will shed light on why this tragedy occurred.
The crash, which has left the city and the families of the victims in deep mourning, has raised many questions. How did this medical flight, which was supposed to bring a patient to safety, end in such a horrifying tragedy? What went wrong during the flight, and why did it end with such devastating consequences?
As the NTSB continues its investigation, the community and the families of the victims await answers. Authorities are providing support to the loved ones of those who died, and the grief from this tragedy is palpable in Philadelphia, as families and friends cope with the loss of so many lives. The deaths of Steven Dreuitt, Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, Valentina Guzman Murillo, and Lizeth Murillo Ozuna will be deeply felt by their families, friends, and the larger community.
The recovery of the cockpit voice recorder and the enhanced ground proximity warning system will hopefully provide clarity, but for now, the city mourns the senseless loss of life that occurred on that tragic Friday evening.
The post Steven Dreuitt Death; Philly plane crash victim killed on ground identified: police first appeared on Trusted and Verified USA News.
