PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor Cherelle Parker and city officials held a memorial and wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday to observe the first anniversary of the medical jet crash in the Northeast.
The vigil began with an opening prayer before Mayor Parker acknowledged the victims and survivors of the plane crash, asking them to stand and be recognized.
“There are no words that can fully capture the death of that loss, but please know this, we are all gathered here today because Philadelphia remembers, and Philadelphia will never forget,” Parker said.
“When you heard us lift up the names of all of those impacted, I want you to know that we speak their memory with reverence, and we hold their families and loved ones close in our hearts.”
The memorial took place at Engine 71 fire station on Cottman Avenue, the first to respond to the crash.
It was just after 6 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2025, when a medical jet heading to Mexico took off from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, then crashed into Cottman Avenue near the mall. All six passengers on board were killed, including a young girl from Mexico recovering from surgery at Shriners Children's Philadelphia.
Two dozen people on the ground were impacted, including 37-year old Steven Druitt, who died at the scene. His fiancée, 34-year-old Dominique Goods Burke, died three months later. They left behind two young children.
Druitt’s mother, Amira Brown, said the memorial was needed.
“ I'm just so thankful for everyone coming out to support me and not just me, the people that also lost their lives,” she said. “I'm just very grateful.”
Carlos Obrador Garrido, head of the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, spoke about the loss and praised local leadership.
“We say their names because remembering them is an act of respect, as Mayor Parker just mentioned, Alan, Jose, Rodrigo, Raul, Lisette, Valentina,” he said. “This fight, whose stories remind us that humanitarian missions are ultimately about people, families, and hope.”
Officials placed a wreath at the entrance to the Roosevelt Mall after the memorial ended to commemorate the anniversary.