The cause of the January 31 plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia remains a mystery, leaving experts puzzled and creating a void increasingly being filled with conspiracy theories, write Ryan W. Briggs and Dylan Purcell for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Footage of the Med Jets 056 crash immediately went viral, leading to speculation and conspiracy theories — both of which were helped on by fake videos and even AI-generated recordings of air traffic control.
Speculation began almost instantly. Some suggested terrorism, others pointed to sabotage, and a few even floated the idea of a cartel hit.
Even those who know exactly what kind of conditions could trigger such a fatal Learjet crash were left puzzled, including Domingo Olivares, a former commercial airline pilot with more than 6,800 hours in command of a Learjet 55.
“It’s pretty strange,” said Olivares. “They were talking normal to the tower when they switched to takeoff … then nothing.”
The plane successfully took off and was traveling at 215 mph and climbing. Olivares explained that at that point, it is pretty straightforward flying: throttle up, reach altitude, and engage autopilot.
He added that he doesn’t understand what happened.
There weren’t any indications of any mechanical problems or other issues, so speculation remains abound.
Read more about the speculation surrounding the crash in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
_____
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in February 2025.
