Philadelphia Plane Crash Witness: “The Sky Was Ablaze”

The crash ignited a massive fire that engulfed vehicles, buildings, and individuals in the vicinity. Five buildings were affected before firefighters could control the blaze. Investigators are now evaluating structural damage and ensuring safety in the area.

Officials have established a shelter at Samuel Fels High School for those displaced by the incident. As of 3 p.m. on February 1, many residents were still unable to return home due to ongoing safety concerns.

School Bus Driver: ‘The Entire Sky Lit Up’

Christopher Andro, a school bus driver from Southampton, about a 30-minute drive from the crash site, recounted his experience that night as he returned home after assisting his cousin with a flat tire.

“As I was going northbound on the Boulevard, I was just passing Tyson when I suddenly saw the explosion,” Andro told The Epoch Times.

He had his headphones on but wasn’t listening to music, which allowed him to be aware of his surroundings.

“I took them off and was just in shock, wondering, ‘What is that?’” he recalled.

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He felt the explosion’s impact.

“I was blown away. I could feel a slight shock wave. The explosion created a mushroom cloud, and I could see it shaking. I felt something in my chest, even though I was quite far away. The entire sky lit up; it was surreal,” he said.

Andro’s dashcam captured footage of the aircraft crashing and exploding.

“If you zoom in, you can see the plane coming down and then blowing up,” he described. ”There was a fireball. Initially, I thought it was a meteor because of how brightly the sky lit up. But then I saw the fireball.”

Revisiting the Scene

“At first, I thought it was just an explosion,” Andro said. “I had to check it out out of curiosity. I wanted to help, too. So, as soon as I saw the chaos, I started asking questions. Some bystanders claimed to see a helicopter; others thought it was a plane. Eventually, we confirmed it was indeed a plane, despite rumors suggesting an oxygen center had exploded due to the visible oxygen tanks. However, it turned out that some oxygen was indeed on board the aircraft. It was shocking.”

Upon exiting his vehicle, Andro was confronted by an unfamiliar smell.

“I realized I didn’t recognize the scent because I had never encountered burning jet fuel before. That’s what it was,” he explained.

First Responders Arrive, Neighbors Help

Andro noted that when he arrived at the scene, the police were already on site, securing the area. He was impressed by their rapid response.

“By the time I turned around, police had secured the entire area in about a minute and a half—at least 12 police cars had appeared. I thought, ‘Wow, that was quick,’” Andro said.

He parked his car at a nearby McDonald’s on Cottman Avenue and began recording video. Then he noticed an oxygen tank on the corner of the street that was missing some parts. He later discovered that debris from the explosion had struck a utility pole and bounced into the restaurant, breaking a window and injuring an elderly man.

“That piece was probably around two pounds, so it had some weight when it hit him on the side of the head,” Andro said.

Andro entered the Four Seasons Diner, where the elderly man had sustained injuries, to lend a hand.

“When I arrived, there was blood on the ground and on the table, along with a number of napkins soaked with blood, which had started to dry,” Andro described. “Fortunately, he said he was alright. Everyone was joking that he had a tough head. I’m just relieved he was okay. He didn’t seem concussed.”

Andro also mentioned that police advised to keep the broken window as it was a part of the investigation.

“I suggested they cut out a piece of cardboard and tape it around,” he said.

He remained in the diner, where he found several elderly women who were understandably frightened.

“I reassured them, saying that everything would be alright,” he recalled.

Andro described an elderly couple in the diner, with the husband using an oxygen tank.

“They didn’t want to go outside because they were scared. They were an older couple, and I offered to accompany them to retrieve the tank from their car. I did what I could to assist everyone. But obviously, the police and first responders were the real heroes in that situation. I have deep respect for law enforcement and their efforts,” he remarked.

A Wake-Up Call

Local resident Nina Bruno mentioned she heard the plane overhead prior to the crash and sensed something was amiss.

“When it comes from the airport towards my neighborhood, it sounded too loud. So low,” Bruno shared with The Epoch Times.

“I could hear the plane, but it didn’t sound normal, just too low. I became concerned. A few minutes later, I went outside and noticed helicopters, which made me think something was wrong with the plane,” she recounted.

Bruno chose to remain indoors after the crash. “I stayed home because I knew it wasn’t safe to go outside, but I kept up with the news, which was quite disheartening,” she said.

She expressed feeling an emotional weight.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s deeply tragic and terrifying. Many of these individuals were trying to escape for their lives. I heard reports of people being on fire. It was just profoundly tragic,” she reflected.

Bruno stressed the importance of vigilance and hoped such a tragedy would never happen again.

“When it occurs in your neighborhood, it’s incredibly alarming. It could happen anywhere,” she warned.

“I feel for those that suffered, including those on the plane.”

Nancy Wang contributed to this report.