When a medical transport plane tragically crashed in a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood on Jan. 31, 2025, the American Red Cross was there helping to support the recovery needs of those impacted. 

The accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Cottman Avenue between Roosevelt Boulevard and Bustleton Avenue, resulting in 7 deaths, 24 injuries and damage to dozens of homes, vehicles and infrastructure. 

Working with the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Red Cross disaster health and mental health volunteers arrived on scene within the first hour. They met with residents aboard a SEPTA bus in a nearby parking lot, providing a place of refuge and calming presence amid the chaotic scene. 

Meanwhile, Red Cross mass care and logistics teams worked with OEM to open a shelter at Samuel Fels High School in Northeast Philadelphia. The shelter remained open for 5 days and provided a place to rest, meals and snacks and health and emotional support for those impacted. 

For more than a week, Red Cross individual disaster recovery workers staffed OEM’s Command Center in the Roosevelt Mall parking lot. Teams also participated in the Mayor’s town hall event and 2 multi-agency resource centers. 

Our individual disaster recovery and incident care and condolence teams continue to work with the community to help them move toward the next step of their recovery process. In total, the Red Cross served 204 people during this incident.