Watch: Philadelphia plane crash debris flies into diner, customers run for cover

Terrified customers at a Philadelphia diner were caught in the chaos of a deadly plane crash when debris from the aircraft smashed through the windows, striking people inside.

A video that surfaced online captured the moment customers at the Four Seasons Diner on Cottman Avenue ducked for cover as metal fragments from the doomed Learjet 55 flew into the restaurant, injuring an old man.

One customer, sitting in a booth, was struck in the head by a piece of metal and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. "We are all pretty shaken, but everyone is OK," said diner manager Ayhan Tiryaki told the New York Post, adding, "The customer was hit in the head, and we don't know exactly how he is, but we hope he'll be OK."

The medevac plane crashed in Philadelphia, just a few kilometres away from the diner. Another video from the crash site showed the devastating scale of destruction, with charred vehicles, wrecked buildings, and crumpled pavements.

The crash, which occurred less than five kilometres from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, left seven people dead, including six Mexican nationals aboard the aircraft and one person on the ground. Officials also reported at least 19 injuries.

The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was transporting a paediatric medical patient, her mother and four crew members when it went down. The flight was bound for Tijuana, Mexico.

The disaster came just days after another deadly aviation accident near Washington, DC, where 67 people lost their lives when a passenger plane collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter.

Reacting to the Philadelphia crash, US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on Truth Social, writing, "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. More to follow. God bless you all."

Images from the crash site revealed severe damage to public property, with sidewalks pushed up by the impact and debris scattered across the neighbourhood. Officials have described the incident as a "major disaster", as investigations continue into what caused the aircraft to go down.