10-year-old Andre Howard III was in a car with his father and siblings when the plane crashed near the Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia. Heroically, he tried to shield his 4-year-old sister from the debris, which resulted in metal entering his own head.
“Heard what we thought was a car crash, but then you see a fury of fire in the air, then a bunch of debris shooting everywhere,” father, Andre Howard, told 6ABC. “My son who’s named after me, Andre Howard, tells his little sister, ‘Get down.’ And he grabs her I hear the glass shatter. I turn around, there’s a piece of metal sticking out of my son’s head from the plane.”
His family is now reporting that Andre is expected to survey his injuries.
Newsweek reached out to Andre’s mother, LaShawn Hamiel, through her GoFundMe page.
Why It Matters
A Learjet 55 crashed around 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 31, in northeast Philadelphia near the Roosevelt Mall. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the jet was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. It was then bound for Mexico.
All six people on the medical flight were killed, as well as one person, who was in their car at the time of the crash.
The crash came just days after a fatal midair collision on Wednesday night involving an American Airlines passenger plane and a Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter that resulted in 67 fatalities.
What To Know
Thick, dark plumes of smoke billowed into the sky while dozens of fires burned along the roadway. The plane crashed into the roadway and homes near the Roosevelt Mall in the northeastern part of the city.
6ABC reported that a bystander on the street took off his shirt and applied pressure to Andre’s head.
The Philadelphia Police then took Andre to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
“They told us my son wasn’t supposed to make it. They also told us, ‘They don’t do children trauma.’ But they did for us, which was nothing but God,” Howard told 6ABC.
Doctors initially told Howard that Andre would never walk again. The 10-year-old was transported to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and was reportedly making “strides overnight.”
In a GoFundMe that Andre’s mother created, Hamiel noted that Andre has a “long and difficult road to recovery” that will include “surgeries, therapy, and ongoing treatment.”
“Andre is a kind, loving child with a bright future. This tragedy has shaken our family and the community, but with your help, we can focus on what matters most: helping Andre heal and thrive,” the GoFundMe reads.
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised over $23,000 from almost 500 donations.
In addition to Andre, at least 23 others were also injured due to the crash, according to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parke.
What People Are Saying
LaShawn Hamiel, Andre’s mother, to 6ABC: “He’s strong, he’s a jokester, but he’s strong. He’s a superhero.”
Andre Howard, 10-year-old Andre’s father, to 6ABC: “To face death yesterday and speaking today, stepping up for his little sister, like I train him and his other little brothers to do off of instinct. He’s my hero.”
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement on X: “This is a tragedy in our City. People have lost their lives and many injured in this horrific crash and the damage is significant. Our prayers are with the families, friends, neighbors and all of those impacted by the tragic crash. We are unified in our approach – a One Philly philosophy with all hands on deck.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote in an X post on Saturday: “Authorities have confirmed at least 7 fatalities and several are receiving care at our local hospitals. In the face of this tragedy, Philadelphia is responding in the Philly way – law enforcement protecting our communities, neighbors helping neighbors, Pennsylvanians working together. Please continue listening to local authorities, be patient, and hug the ones you love.”
What’s Next
The city plans to hold a town hall meeting to “answer questions and provide resources” for those affected by the crash on February 5 at 7 p.m. ET.
The post Boy Who Saved Sister’s Life in Philly Plane Crash Expected to Survive Head Injury appeared first on Newsweek.
