By As authorities continue investigating the catastrophic crash of a medical transport jet in Northeast Philadelphia, a disaster that claimed seven lives and injured at least 24 others. Among the survivors is 10-year-old Trey Howard, who sustained severe head trauma when debris from the wreckage struck him as he stood near the crash site.
Trey’s father, Andre Howard Jr., had taken his three children—ages 4, 7, and 10—on what should have been a routine morning outing to pick up donuts when, without warning, the aircraft plummeted from the sky.
“It sounded like a missile firing bullets—metal hitting my car and everyone else’s,” Andre recalled, describing the moment with a mixture of shock and disbelief. “You see a car on fire, a man walking on fire. It was just chaos.”
As shrapnel rained down, Trey instinctively did what big brothers do. He shielded his younger sister.
“I turned around, and he had metal sticking out of his head,” Andre said. Thinking quickly, he fashioned a makeshift tourniquet using socks and a stranger’s shirt to staunch the bleeding. Moments later, a police officer rushed Trey to the hospital.
That night, surgeons performed emergency brain surgery, the prognosis uncertain. “There was a strong chance he wouldn’t make it,” Andre admitted. Yet, against all odds, Trey regained consciousness. His first words reflected not only his recovery but his unshaken love for football.
“He asked me, ‘Daddy, what day is it?’ I told him, ‘Monday.’ Then he said, ‘Wait, we didn’t play yesterday, did we?’” Andre recounted to The Associated Press. Trey, a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan, seemed relieved to learn he had not missed the Super Bowl.
Even amid his own suffering, Trey’s primary concern remained his sister’s safety. “Daddy, did I save my sister?” he asked. For Andre, the moment was bittersweet. “As a dad, it’s my job to protect them—not his,” he said, grappling with pride and sorrow.
Trey’s remarkable resilience has drawn widespread support. Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey visited him in the hospital, lifting his spirits. “He tells me, ‘Daddy, I’m a celebrity now.’ I told him, ‘No, you’re more than a celebrity—you’re a superhero.’”
Even in the midst of tragedy, Trey Howard’s survival—his courage in the face of chaos—stands as an enduring testament to human resilience.
His favorite team, The Philadelphia Eagles, will take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX.
