PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 10-year-old boy who was critically injured in the deadly Northeast Philadelphia jet crash last Friday is on the road to recovery.
"Trey is making progress. He’s surprised us all, you know. He’s making a lot of progress," said Shawn Hamiel, the grandfather of Andre Howard III, known as Trey.
Trey was in the car with his dad and sister the night of Jan. 31 when the medical transport jet plummeted to the ground on Cottman Avenue. He went to protect his sister from falling debris and was struck in the head.
Trey underwent emergency brain surgery and his family said the first things he asked about when he woke up were if his sister was OK and if he missed the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
When Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown caught wind of Trey’s story, he announced he’d play Sunday’s game in his honor.
“He is a hero. A shoutout to his parents, they raised a hero. And when we get back, I’m going to try and see him. I hope he is feeling better,” Brown said. “It means a lot to the city — something of that magnitude happening and he’s worried about the football game. So for fans and supporters like him, we’re trying to get it done for him.”
Trey’s grandfather says the 10-year-old is eager to play sports again.
“He wants to get back out. He wants to play basketball and he wants to play football and the Eagles sent a lot of signed footballs and things and he wants to get out there and play, but he can’t right now. He’s got to keep trying to hit on the mending,” Hamiel said.
Trey was one of at least 24 people injured in the crash. Six people aboard the plane died, as well as one man on the ground.