Human error, gaps in FAA oversight seen as possible factors in last year's Northeast Philly medical jet crash

Federal investigators say human and oversight gaps may have contributed to the deadly crash of a medical jet in Northeast Philadelphia last year, based on documents filed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB does not identify a final cause for the Jan. 31, 2025, crash of a Mexican-owned Learjet that went down near Roosevelt Mall shortly after takeoff, killing six people onboard and one person on the ground. Investigators are examining pilot workload and readiness, the pilots’ access to instrument information, and FAA oversight of the operator. Factors discussed include potentially fatigued pilots who had never flown in or out of the airport, an improper elevator setting on the aircraft’s tail, and a lack of FAA safety checks. The NTSB also describes a rapid roll after communication with air traffic control, ending the climb and preceding impact.