PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A tragic update has emerged regarding the crash of a medical transport plane that took place in northeast Philadelphia. City officials confirmed on Tuesday that Dominique Goods-Burke has become the eighth victim to die as a direct result of the incident. Goods-Burke succumbed to her injuries on April 27 at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital. She was only 34 years old.
On January 31, Goods-Burke was in a vehicle with her fiancé, Steven Dreuitt, when debris from the crashing Learjet 55 air ambulance struck their car. Dreuitt tragically lost his life after their vehicle was engulfed in flames. His son, who was also in the vehicle during the accident, suffered severe burns. This devastating event has left both families mourning the loss of loved ones.
Colleagues at the café where Goods-Burke worked as a baking supervisor described her as a cherished member of their team. While they chose not to provide extensive comments, Meg Hagele, the founder of High Point Cafe, expressed her deep admiration for Goods-Burke. Hagele noted, "She was an amazing mom, she was an incredible baker, she held this place together." The sentiment reflects the bond Goods-Burke shared with her community and highlights the impact of her loss.
The initial crash, which occurred near a busy intersection on a Friday evening, was catastrophic. All six individuals aboard the Learjet, which was operating as a medical transport, perished. Among the victims was a young girl who was returning home following medical treatment in Philadelphia. Notably, all six deceased were from Mexico.
In addition to the fatalities on the plane, the crash had widespread repercussions on the ground. Approximately two dozen individuals sustained injuries, and over a dozen homes were either damaged or completely destroyed due to the debris scattered by the plane. The incident has raised concerns about safety in the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is actively investigating the crash and has identified that the plane's voice recorder was not functioning at the time of the accident. This crucial detail will likely complicate the investigation as officials seek to determine the cause of the crash and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Interestingly, this tragic event unfolded just two days after a separate deadly air disaster, which involved a midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. That incident resulted in 67 fatalities, marking one of the deadliest air disasters in U.S. history in recent times.
The heartbreaking aftermath of the Philadelphia plane crash continues to resonate, affecting many lives and sparking a push for better air safety measures. With families grieving and investigators piecing together the circumstances surrounding the crash, the hope remains that lessons will be learned to ensure the safety of both air and ground travel in the future.
