The families of two people killed in a January air ambulance crash in Philadelphia have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the jet.
In a complaint filed Monday, Nov. 17, the estates of pediatrician Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo and Lizeth Murillo Osuna — the mother of a girl receiving life-saving care at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia — allege negligence by Med Jets, the operator of the aircraft.
According to the lawsuit, on Jan. 31, Med Jets Flight 056, a Learjet 55 carrying six Mexican nationals — including Arredondo, Osuna, her daughter Valentina, and two pilots — departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport bound for Tijuana, Mexico.
About a minute after takeoff, the aircraft crashed near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia, where it erupted in a massive explosion. The crash engulfed cars and homes, sending burning debris across the neighborhood and terrifying bystanders.
All six people on board were killed, along with a person in a vehicle on the ground, court documents state. An eighth victim later died from injuries, and around 20 others were hurt.
The complaint alleges that due to “carelessness, negligence, and recklessness,” Arredondo and Osuna suffered “severe, disabling, and excruciating injuries” and endured an “agonizing death resulting from being engulfed in flames and incinerated.”
The families argue Med Jets had a responsibility to ensure the Learjet was safe to fly and properly maintained. They accuse the company of failing to keep the aircraft in safe working condition, failing to conduct proper maintenance, and failing to ensure the pilots and crew were adequately trained.
The estates contend Med Jets is liable for the deaths and damages suffered by the victims, their estates, and their families.
A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report released in March revealed that the Learjet’s cockpit voice recorder was not functioning and likely had been inoperable for years. Investigators also noted the flight crew did not send any distress calls. The report did not identify a cause of the crash.
The lawsuit also mentions a previous fatal crash involving a Learjet 35A owned and operated by Med Jets at Cuernavaca Airport in Mexico on Nov. 1, 2023.
“Today’s filing is an important step on behalf of the victims of this tragedy to hold those responsible for this deadly crash fully accountable,” attorneys Jeffrey Goodman and Bob Mongeluzzi, who represent the families, said in a statement on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
They added, “Given the lack of functioning onboard recording systems, much remains to be determined. This litigation will help the victims get answers as to why their loved ones senselessly died and why an entire community was placed in harm’s way.”
CNN reported that Med Jets conducts business as Jet Rescue. Jet Rescue and attorneys for Med Jets have been contacted for comment.
The lawsuit also states that Med Jets is not affiliated with Medjet, a U.S.-based air medical transport and security membership program. Medjet previously clarified in a press release that it has no connection to Med Jets.
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