Nurses who treated the young Mexican girl killed when her air ambulance crashed over Philadelphia threw her a goodbye party just hours before she died. Seven people were killed in the tragedy including the schoolgirl's mother. On Friday, staff at Shriners Children’s had gathered to celebrate the six-year-old’s recovery. The child, who nurses had “grown incredibly close to”, was flying home to Mexico with her mother when the medical transport plane crashed near Roosevelt Mall in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening.
She had spent four months at the hospital receiving lifesaving treatment. “The relationships that were formed were true and were dear, and you know she is greatly missed this morning because of that impact,” spokesperson Mel Bower said. Officials, citing privacy concerns, have not released the girl’s name or medical condition, but confirmed she had been treated for a serious illness that was difficult to manage in Mexico.
“Her journey was one of hope and of aspiration,” said Bower. Shriners provides medical care to children from 170 countries, and such medical transport flights are common, occurring almost daily. While some patients can travel commercially through hospital partnerships with airlines, more critical cases require private air ambulances, like the one that crashed Friday. Staff quickly realised that their patient had been aboard the doomed aircraft.
The hospital, known for its tight-knit environment, fosters deep relationships between patients, doctors, and even cafeteria workers. “We’re in the lifesaving business,” Bower added. “Our mission is to give kids their best life ever. And so it’s not something we would even contemplate.”. Over the weekend, hospital officials checked in on staff and patients and offered counselling services to those struggling with the devastating loss.
Bower said the hospital remains determined to honour the child’s memory. “We will take her with us as we go forward,” he said. Carrying six people from Mexico, the Learjet 55 went down just after departing from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, creating what witnesses described as a massive fireball, shaking houses and leaving a chaotic street scene. A person in a car was the seventh fatal victim of the fiery crash.
