Authorities are investigating the vehicle fire as arson while working to identify the victim and determine how he died.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A man was found dead inside a burned vehicle near Philadelphia International Airport early Sunday after emergency crews responded to a fire in a parking lot on Enterprise Avenue, authorities said.
Philadelphia police, firefighters and medics responded to the 8400 block of Enterprise Avenue during the early morning hours of Oct. 18. The vehicle was burning when crews arrived, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office later determined that the fire was arson, according to police and local reports.
The victim had not been publicly identified Sunday. Authorities said the severity of the fire made identification difficult, and the cause of his death remained undetermined. The investigation is expected to include work by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office to establish the man’s identity and determine how he died.
The vehicle was found in a parking lot near Pendergast Safety Company, across from Philadelphia International Airport. Philadelphia police homicide detectives and the department’s Crime Scene Unit responded as investigators examined the burned vehicle and the surrounding area for evidence.
Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office also spent hours at the scene. NBC10 reported that a dog was brought in to assist investigators as they searched the area. An employee working nearby told the station that he heard what sounded like an explosion, but authorities had not publicly established what caused the reported blast.
Other local reports also described the vehicle as having exploded during the fire. Authorities have not released details explaining how the fire was started, whether an accelerant was found or what happened before the vehicle began burning. The arson determination establishes that investigators believe the fire was intentionally set, but it does not by itself establish how the man died.
The location is just outside the perimeter of Philadelphia International Airport. Officials had not reported any connection between the incident and airport operations, and the investigation was focused on the parking lot and burned vehicle.
No arrests had been announced Sunday, and authorities had not publicly identified any suspects or released a possible motive. Investigators were continuing to work to identify the victim, determine his cause of death and establish the circumstances surrounding the intentionally set fire.
Author note: Last updated October 18, 2026.