Harrowing audio has captured the moments before the medical ambulance plane crashed in Philadelphia while air traffic control communicated with the aircraft.
The audio depicts the communications that took place before the plane took off, and the moment operators realised the incident had happened.
Operators could be heard trying to make contact with the aircraft.
The recordings, obtained by Fox News Digital, include an air traffic controller saying: “What’s going on down there?”
A second air traffic controller replies with five chilling words: “We have a lost aircraft.” They added: “We’re not exactly sure what happened. So, we’re trying to figure it out.
“The field is going to be closed so no inbounds-outbounds.”
The ill-fated aircraft was a Learjet 55 that had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at about 6:30pm local time.
The air ambulance was carrying a young girl receiving life-saving treatment, her mother, and four crew at the time of the crash.
Images have emerged of the pavement where the plane crashed to the ground, located near the Roosevelt Mall.
The aircraft exploded into a fireball after making impact with the ground.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which operated the Learjet 55, said in a statement: “We cannot confirm any survivors.”
Audio has also captured the final words of the pilot who was flying the medical ambulance at the time of the crash.
Air traffic controllers were trying to communicate with the pilot before he said: “Thank you. Good day.”
After a period of silence and more failed attempts to make contact, a controller is heard saying: “We’re not exactly sure what happened, so we’re trying to figure it out for now.”
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his people are “engaged” on the tragedy as he mourned the victims.
He posted on Truth Social: “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.”
The crash came just days after a passenger jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River.
All 67 people involved in the crash died.