Fifteen individuals were hospitalized following a harrowing incident involving a skydiving aircraft that experienced engine trouble shortly after takeoff, culminating in a crash on landing near a southern New Jersey airport on Wednesday. The incident was confirmed by local authorities.
The crash involved a single-engine Cessna 208B, which was carrying all 15 people on board when it went down around 5:30 p.m. at Cross Keys Airport, situated approximately 21 miles (34 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration.
During a press briefing Wednesday night, Andrew Halter from Gloucester County Emergency Management stated, “The aircraft tried to return and conduct a landing, but unfortunately that effort was not successful.”
The crash led to a range of injuries, with some of the victims suffering more severely than others, and the aircraft itself sustained significant damage. Several of those on the plane came into contact with jet fuel and required decontamination before receiving medical care, according to Halter.
Remarking on the outcome, Halter commented, “It’s incredible that all 15 individuals are alive, with some enduring only minor injuries.”
Aerial images show the plane nestled amidst trees, surrounded by various debris remnants. Emergency responders, including firetrucks and other vehicles, were visible at the scene.
Wendy A. Marano, representing Cooper University Hospital, noted that three people were undergoing assessment at the hospital’s trauma center in Camden, New Jersey, while eight others received treatment for less severe conditions in the emergency department. An additional four patients awaited further evaluation, though details of their injuries were not disclosed.
Hospital EMS and trauma teams were promptly deployed to the site of the crash, Marano stated.
The ill-fated aircraft is owned by ARNE Aviation, based in Virginia, and had been leased to Skydive Cross Keys. A request for comment from Skydive Cross Keys went unanswered, and when contacted, ARNE Aviation’s office manager Tracey Sackett suggested following up the next day.
When inquiries were made to Cross Keys Airport, a responder directed questions to Skydive Cross Keys, citing no available information.
The National Transportation Safety Board has announced an investigation into the crash through a post on X.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also addressed the situation on X, confirming he was briefed on the incident and highlighted that, at this time, there have been “no fatalities.”