Newly released audio recordings from the air traffic control tower at Northeast Philadelphia Airport capture the tense moments leading up to the crash of a medical transport plane on Friday night. The Learjet 55, carrying a pediatric patient and five others, went down shortly after takeoff.

In the audio, obtained by Fox News Digital, controllers can be heard struggling to communicate with the aircraft as it disappeared from radar. "What’s going on down there?" one controller asks, followed by another stating, "We have a lost aircraft. We’re not exactly sure what happened… The field is going to be closed."

First responders work at the scene of the plane crash in Philadelphia on January 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The aircraft, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. According to the company and the Federal Aviation Administration, the six individuals on board included the pilot, co-pilot, a physician, a paramedic, the young patient, and her mother. All were Mexican nationals. A company spokesperson revealed the patient had been receiving critical medical care in the U.S. and was being flown home after completing treatment.

Emergency personnel at the site of the plane crash in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 31, 2025. (REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski)

Retired Philadelphia pilot John Anderson offered preliminary insights into the possible cause of the crash, suggesting a takeoff stall based on video footage. He mentioned several potential contributing factors, including a mechanical malfunction affecting the stabilizer, elevator, or trim, or even a shift in the cabin's load balance. Anderson specifically speculated about the possibility of an unsecured medical stretcher moving during takeoff, leading to a nose-up stall.

Police secure the area around the plane crash site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 31, 2025. (Rachel Wisniewski/Reuters)

This tragic incident occurred just two days after a fatal mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport, highlighting recent concerns about air safety.

With contributions from Fox News Digital's Jenny DeHuff and Alexandra Koch.