15 Hospitalized as Skydiving Plane Veers Off Runway and Crashes into Woods in New Jersey
The aircraft went off the end of the runway at the Cross Keys Airport in Gloucester County, N.J., before crashing with fifteen people on board
Per CNN, the pilot was having trouble with the engine as the plane took off and tried to circle back but was unable to do so15 people have been hospitalized after a skydiving plane veered off the end of the runway and crashed into the woods in New Jersey on Wednesday, July 2.
"A Cessna 208B went off the end of the runway at Cross Keys Airport in New Jersey around 5:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, July 2," a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration obtained by PEOPLE, confirmed. "Fifteen people were on board the skydiving aircraft. The FAA will investigate," it concluded. Cross Keys Airport is located in Gloucester County, N.J., about 21 miles southeast of Philadelphia.
Per CNN, the pilot reported having trouble with the engine as the plane took off. The outlet also notes that he tried to circle back and land the plane, but he was unable to do so.
"Multi-agency MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT. Cross Keys Airport, Monroe Twp. - Downed Aircraft - Please avoid the area to allow emergency vehicles the best access," Gloucester County Emergency Management confirmed on Facebook.
PEOPLE has contacted the Federal Aviation Administration, the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management, Cross Keys Airport, and Skydive Cross Keys for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
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Andrew Halter of the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management confirmed to the outlet that passengers were left with minor and critical injuries, with three being taken to the hospital via helicopter. People covered in jet fuel were also decontaminated before being treated.
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'It's amazing that at this point there are no fatalities reported,' Halter said, per CNN. 'Just the fact that we have 15 people that are still with us here today, some with minor injuries, I think is fantastic and remarkable.'
NBC News notes that three people are being evaluated at Cooper University Hospital's trauma center in Camden, New Jersey, and eight people with less severe injuries are being treated in its emergency department, Wendy A. Marano, a spokesperson for the hospital, said.
Per the outlet, Marano also confirmed that four other patients with 'minimal injuries' are waiting for further evaluation, though she wasn't able to provide the exact nature of the injuries.
According to footage shared via WPVI, stretchers and emergency vehicles were captured in the woodland area near the runway.
Halter said that an investigation is ongoing to identify the cause of the engine failure and subsequent crash. He also noted, per CNN, that the aircraft sustained substantial damage in the accident.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates the plane was dropping rapidly at a rate of 3,008 feet per minute shortly before the tracking data ceased.
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USA Today
13 hours ago
- USA Today
New Jersey skydiving company says plane experienced 'mechanical issues' after takeoff
A skydiving plane that went off a runway and crashed into the woods near a small New Jersey airport experienced "mechanical issues" just minutes after taking off, the skydiving company said in a statement July 3. The single-engine Cessna 208B went off the end of the runway while departing Cross Keys Airport in southern New Jersey at around 5:30 p.m. on July 2, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft was carrying 15 people, including the pilot. Skydive Cross Keys, which has operated since 1994 at Cross Keys Airport, said the aircraft developed "mechanical issues" at roughly 3,000 feet after takeoff, according to the Cherry Hill Courier-Post, part of the USA TODAY Network. The pilot, described as "highly experienced," turned back for an emergency landing, but the plane left the runway and crashed into a wooded area, the company said. The company noted that the plane was up-to-date on all scheduled maintenance and had recently undergone a routine FAA inspection. It added that it was cooperating with the FAA and local authorities "to determine the root cause of the incident." The company expressed relief that no one died in the crash, saying the outcome "could have been much worse." Authorities said 14 people were hospitalized after the incident, including three who remained in critical condition at a New Jersey hospital as of July 3. Injuries for the victims ranged from minor to serious, "though none are believed to be life-threatening," according to the company. It added that several victims who were transported to the hospital have since been discharged. "We're incredibly thankful for the skill and composure of our pilot, whose actions helped keep everyone alive," the company said. "We're also deeply grateful to the emergency responders who arrived so quickly and took such great care of everyone on board." Cross Keys Airport is a known location for skydiving outings. The airport is located in Gloucester County, about 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Local police chief describes chaotic scene after plane crash In an initial report posted on July 3, the FAA said the aircraft experienced engine issues after departure and "crashed while returning to the airport after a runway excursion into trees." Authorities said the plane is owned and operated by ARNE Aviation out of Virginia and was leased to Skydive Cross Keys. Andrew Halter, with Gloucester County Emergency Management, previously said the pilot reported "engine trouble" before the crash. The plane tried to circle back for landing but was unsuccessful in that attempt, according to Halter. During a news conference on July 3, Monroe Township Police Chief John McBride described the scene as chaotic as emergency personnel swiftly responded and provided aid. The police chief said the plane sustained "extremely extensive" damage and debris had been spread out through the entire area. "The plane was completely mangled and just beyond repair," McBride said at the news conference. "It just looked like a big pile of metal, and there was just people crawling out of it." The aircraft was elevated and stuck between several trees, according to McBride, who said fire crews had to cut down trees to get to the wreckage. McBride added that victims had been covered in jet fuel, and some were heard screaming in pain as they tried to navigate between fallen trees and debris. He said victims who sustained minor injuries assisted those who were more seriously hurt. Authorities said the official cause of the crash remains under investigation, which is being led by the Monroe Township Police Department, Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, and the FAA. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the crash and will provide additional information when available. 14 passengers recovering from the crash At the July 3 news conference, Halter said one passenger refused medical treatment at the scene and 14 were transported to hospitals for treatment. Eleven people were transported to Cooper University Hospital in Camden by medical helicopter, including three who were in critical condition when they left the scene, according to Halter. Three others were transported to Inspira Medical Center of Mullica Hill by ambulance. As of late morning on July 3, Halter said three people were listed in critical condition and eight were still receiving treatment at Cooper University Hospital. He added that many of the victims suffered various extremity injuries, such as upper or lower extremities. McBride said he told the passenger who declined treatment that he had a facial injury and needed care, but in response, the man said: "That'll be something cool to tell the ladies later." The police chief noted that the man remained at the crash scene to check that other passengers were safe.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
15 Hospitalized as Skydiving Plane Veers Off Runway and Crashes into Woods in New Jersey
15 people were hospitalized after a skydiving plane crashed into the woods in New Jersey on Wednesday, July 2 The aircraft went off the end of the runway at the Cross Keys Airport in Gloucester County, N.J., before crashing with fifteen people on board Per CNN, the pilot was having trouble with the engine as the plane took off and tried to circle back but was unable to do so15 people have been hospitalized after a skydiving plane veered off the end of the runway and crashed into the woods in New Jersey on Wednesday, July 2. "A Cessna 208B went off the end of the runway at Cross Keys Airport in New Jersey around 5:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, July 2," a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration obtained by PEOPLE, confirmed. "Fifteen people were on board the skydiving aircraft. The FAA will investigate," it concluded. Cross Keys Airport is located in Gloucester County, N.J., about 21 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Per CNN, the pilot reported having trouble with the engine as the plane took off. The outlet also notes that he tried to circle back and land the plane, but he was unable to do so. "Multi-agency MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT. Cross Keys Airport, Monroe Twp. - Downed Aircraft - Please avoid the area to allow emergency vehicles the best access," Gloucester County Emergency Management confirmed on Facebook. PEOPLE has contacted the Federal Aviation Administration, the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management, Cross Keys Airport, and Skydive Cross Keys for comment, but did not immediately hear back. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Andrew Halter of the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management confirmed to the outlet that passengers were left with minor and critical injuries, with three being taken to the hospital via helicopter. People covered in jet fuel were also decontaminated before being treated. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! 'It's amazing that at this point there are no fatalities reported,' Halter said, per CNN. 'Just the fact that we have 15 people that are still with us here today, some with minor injuries, I think is fantastic and remarkable.' NBC News notes that three people are being evaluated at Cooper University Hospital's trauma center in Camden, New Jersey, and eight people with less severe injuries are being treated in its emergency department, Wendy A. Marano, a spokesperson for the hospital, said. Per the outlet, Marano also confirmed that four other patients with 'minimal injuries' are waiting for further evaluation, though she wasn't able to provide the exact nature of the injuries. According to footage shared via WPVI, stretchers and emergency vehicles were captured in the woodland area near the runway. Halter said that an investigation is ongoing to identify the cause of the engine failure and subsequent crash. He also noted, per CNN, that the aircraft sustained substantial damage in the accident. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates the plane was dropping rapidly at a rate of 3,008 feet per minute shortly before the tracking data ceased. Read the original article on People
a day ago
8 still hospitalized from skydiving plane crash shortly after takeoff from NJ airport
CAMDEN, N.J. -- Three men remained hospitalized in critical condition and five others were listed as serious Thursday, the morning after a skydiving plane with 15 people aboard crashed into a wooded area near a small airport in southern New Jersey. The single engine Cessna 208B radioed about having engine trouble after takeoff and crashed on landing Wednesday evening near Cross Keys Airport, about 21 miles (34 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, authorities said. A initial report posted Thursday by the Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft, with 14 passengers and one crew member, 'crashed while returning to the airport after a runway excursion into trees.' Cooper University Hospital spokesperson Wendy A. Marano said all eight of the patients there suffered blunt force trauma, including injuries to their extremities and soft tissue damage. A woman working at Skydive Cross Keys, which leases the plane involved in the crash, said the company would likely have a statement later Thursday. 'The plane did try to circle back and attempt a landing we are told but was unsuccessful in that attempt,' Andrew Halter, with Gloucester County Emergency Management, said during a news conference Wednesday night. The plane was severely damaged, Halter said, and some of those on board were covered in jet fuel and had to be decontaminated before being taken to the hospital. 'Just the fact that we have 15 people that are still with us here today, some with minor injuries, I think is fantastic and remarkable,' he said. Aerial footage of the crashed plane shows it in the woods, with several pieces of debris nearby. Firetrucks and other emergency vehicles surrounded the scene. Halter said the aircraft is owned and operated by ARNE Aviation out of Virginia and leased to Skydive Cross Keys. A message seeking comment was left Thursday morning for ARNE Aviation. The National Transportation Safety Board said in a post on the social platform X that it is investigating the crash.
