Philadelphia plane crash today: Medical transport jet carrying 6 people crashes in Northeast Philadelphia | LIVE COVERAGE

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A medical transport jet carrying six people slammed into a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood moments after taking off on Friday, erupting in a fireball and engulfing several homes in fire.

It happened near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard just after 6 p.m. Friday.

Moment of impact: Plane crash caught on multiple videos in Northeast Philadelphia

Where was the plane going?

According to the FAA, a Learjet 55 departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it went down.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a company based in Mexico that provides global air ambulance services, said the plane was carrying six people, including four crew members, an escort and a pediatric patient.

Shriners Children’s Philadelphia said the patient and her mother had received treatment and were in the process of being transported back to their home country of Mexico.

Video shows vehicles and other debris on fire after plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the medical crew and pilots who were also lost in this tragic event – as well as all of the people who were affected on the ground – and we’re thankful to the first responders for their quick action,” Shriners said in a statement.

Speaking at a news conference shortly after 8:30 p.m., Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said officials could not yet provide a number of fatalities.

“So right now we’re just asking for prayers,” she told reporters.

The Philadelphia Fire Department advised residents to avoid the area of Calvert and St. Vincent streets.

Mayor Parker urged residents not to touch any debris and to call 911. A shelter is available for residents at Samuel Fels High School located on the 5500 block of Langdon Street, the mayor said.

Action News has learned several others in the immediate area were taken to the hospital with various burn injuries.

Temple University Hospital told ABC News it had received six patients hurt in the crash, although it was not clear if they were in the plane or people who were on the ground.

Three of those patients were treated and released and three remain hospitalized in fair condition, the hospital said.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said none of its patients were onboard the plane and the flight was not affiliated with its hospital.

Officials told Action News that at least one firefighter was hospitalized for a breathing issue.

WATCH: Witness describes horrific scene, seeing woman on fire

A large fire burned in the wake of the crash, prompting a significant response. Vehicles, homes and even people in the area could be seen on fire.

“It was just horrific. I was just driving down the street, coming to Wendy’s and I just saw a plane basically hit the building and it exploded. The sky lit up and I pulled over and basically, it was just real bad around here,” said one witness, who described the incident as “earthquakish.”

“We heard an explosion and then saw the aftermath of flames and smoke. Common sense told me that I should not get close to it,” said witness Jimmy Wiess, who was in the area looking for a spot to have dinner.

Fireball caught on video

A doorbell camera captured footage of the plane plunging in a streak of white and exploding as it hit the ground near the Roosevelt Mall.

“All we heard was a loud roar and didn’t know where it was coming from. We just turned around and saw the big plume,” said Jim Quinn, the owner of the doorbell camera.

“It was a big ball of fire that went up into the sky and the whole gas station just started shaking. Little debris and stuff was flying so I tried to keep the door shut and not let customers out until the debris was gone,” said Mikey, who works at a gas station near the crash site.

“Once I saw the big ball of fire, I came outside and started seeing a bunch of plane pieces. It looked, honestly, like a human foot or something and a shoe still on the side of the street.”

The FAA issued a ground stop at Northeast Philadelphia Airport due to “an aircraft incident.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined second press conference held after the crash and started by saying, “tonight we saw the best of Philly. We saw neighbor helping neighbor. We was Pennsylvanians looking out for one another.”

The Governor reiterated the Mayor’s gratitude for the Philadelphia Fire Department and Philadelphia Police Department for their work.

There are currently 45 state troopers on the ground in Northeast Philadelphia, 25 members of PennDOT, members of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Authority and members of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Governor Shapiro said he spoke with Transportation Secretary Duffy, who offered his full support to Northeast Philadelphia and has dispatched 4 members of the FAA and 4 members of the NTSB to the scene.

President Donald Trump released this statement on his Truth Social account, “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all.”

A continuous stream of police vehicles and fire trucks initially poured into the scene, taking over business parking lots as emergency responders to the crash and fire directed people away and set up a perimeter stretching blocks in each direction.

Within about an hour, the cry of sirens and shouted orders had faded into relative quiet at the edges of the closed-off area, and darkness settled in as drivers passing by peered out trying to see what was happening.

Videos posted to social media show fiery scene after plane crash in Philadelphia

The crash came just two days after the deadliest U.S. air disaster in a generation.

On Wednesday night, an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair in Washington, D.C., with an Army helicopter carrying three soldiers. There were no survivors in that crash.

“You don’t want to think the worst things, but obviously it is very concerning to have two aviation disasters so close together when we haven’t had one in quite some time. So it’s very concerning, for sure,” said Wiess.

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.