On the one-year anniversary of the deadly medical airplane crash on Cottman Avenue, Mayor Cherelle Parker joined first responders, survivors, the families of victims and others in placing two wreaths near the site.
“We stand together as a Philadelphia family,” Parker said.
Earlier, Parker led a ceremony at the Engine 71, Ladder 28 firehouse, at Loretto and Cottman avenues. Those firefighters were the first to respond when the plane crashed near Roosevelt Mall at 6:07 p.m on January 31, 2025.
The flight departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport about 6:06 p.m., with the intended destination of Springfield-Branson National Airport, Springfield, Missouri, before its final destination in Tijuana, Mexico.
At the firehouse ceremony, Parker noted the “extraordinary bravery” of first responders and thanked, among others, Mike Garvey, head of the city’s forensic operations.
Parker also recalled “eight precious lives lost that day.”
The mayor recited the names of those lost. Valentina Guzmán Murillo, the 11-year-old girl returning home after treatment at Shriners Hospital. Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, Valentina’s mom. Alan Montoya Perales, the jet captain. Copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez. Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo. Paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla. Steven Dreuitt, who died when his car caught fire after the crash. And Dominique Goods Burke, Dreuitt’s fiancee, who died of her injuries three months after the crash.
Parker asked for a moment of silence.
“We hold their families and loved ones close in our hearts,” she said. “Philadelphia will never forget.”
Carlos Obrador, the Mexican consul in Philadelphia, also named the victims.
“Remembering them is an act of respect,” he said.
Obrador also mentioned Ramesses Dreuitt Vazquez, Dreuitt’s son, now 10, who suffered severe injuries, but survived.
“Even in tragedy, hope endures,” Obrador said.
No distress calls were made the night of the crash.
Three days after the crash, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured the site.
Ultimately, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that the cockpit voice recorder was not working. No cause of the crash has been determined.
As for the firehouse ceremony, it began with a prayer offered by the Rev. Patrick Welsh, pastor at St. Matthew Church.
Elected officials at the ceremony were state Sen. Joe Picozzi; state Reps. Martina White, Sean Dougherty, Pat Gallagher, Joe Hohenstein, Jared Solomon and Anthony Bellmon; Register of Wills John Sabatina; City Controller Christy Brady; City Councilmen Mike Driscoll, Anthony Phillips and Nicolas O’Rourke; and Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier.
Others on hand included Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson; Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel; Jennifer Graham, CEO of the American Red Cross in southeastern Pennsylvania; Atif Saeed, city Department of Aviation CEO; Charlie Kueny, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; car dealer Gary Barbera; and Owen O’Donnell, the longtime owner of Pizza Roma.
Thompson, the fire commissioner, led a bell ringing to remember the eight lives lost.
Picozzi praised the reaction of the Northeast community to the tragedy.
“We showed our greatness and our resilience,” he said.
Driscoll thanked Kathy Wersinger, of the Lawncrest Community Association, for lobbying him to make sure the one-year anniversary was recognized. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, he pointed to the work of the police and fire departments, Licenses and Inspections, the Department of Streets, the Office of Emergency Management and others.
“Everybody came together to do their jobs,” he said.
Dougherty thanked everyone in the city who worked to reopen Cottman Avenue to traffic and Roosevelt Mall businesses in a timely manner. He also recognized the community surrounding the crash site for its response to the tragedy.
“We are Northeast Philadelphia strong and we will continue to do so,” he said. ••
