Boy Who Protected Sister from Philly Plane Crash Shares First Words After Brain Surgery

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The father of the 10-year-old boy who was injured by flying debris in the deadly plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia revealed his son’s first words after undergoing brain surgery.

Andre “Trey” Howard III was injured on Friday, Jan. 31, when a medical transport jet crashed by the Roosevelt Mall, injuring at least 24 people and killing seven, including all six passengers on board and one person on the ground.

Trey was struck in the head with metal and was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he underwent brain surgery. Trey’s family was informed that there “was a strong chance he might not survive.”

Andre Howard Jr., Trey’s father, told ABC News the conversation that took place once Trey awoke from a successful surgery.

“He asked me, ‘Daddy, what’s today?’ I was like, ‘Monday.’ ‘OK, wait. We didn’t play yesterday did we?’ ‘No, you didn’t miss the Super Bowl,’ “

Trey then asked: “Daddy, did I save my sister?”

“It had me crying,” Andre said.

“‘You told us to get down. I was just trying to help my sister … next thing I know, I thought I died,’ ” Trey said in the hospital, according to Andre.