Fourteen out of the fifteen individuals aboard a skydiving aircraft are currently receiving medical treatment following a serious incident at Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown, New Jersey, on Wednesday. Andrew Halter, a representative from the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management, confirmed that the small plane crashed shortly before 5:30 p.m.
Emergency crews were promptly dispatched to the scene of the downed aircraft located on North Tuckahoe Road. Upon arrival, responders declared a mass casualty incident due to the number of injuries reported. Among the injured, three individuals suffered critical injuries and were airlifted by medical helicopter to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Additionally, eight other injured persons were transported to Cooper Hospital, while three others were taken via ambulance to Inspira Medical Center in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. Notably, one person on board refused treatment at the scene, and the pilot was also among those injured.
According to Halter, several individuals sustained injuries that were exacerbated by being covered in jet fuel following the crash. Remarkably, there have been no fatalities reported at this time, though some injuries have been classified as severe or critical. Halter commended the quick and effective medical response which involved a collaborative effort from police officers, firefighters, and EMS crews who were the first to arrive at the scene.
Prior to the accident, the individuals on board were preparing for a skydiving experience. However, the pilot reported experiencing engine trouble shortly after takeoff. Despite attempting to circle back for a landing, the pilot was unable to safely land the aircraft. Emergency responders were seen working in a wooded area where the plane had crash-landed. Officials have not disclosed how high the plane ascended before the crash occurred.
Flight data from FlightAware indicates that the aircraft, a Cessna 208B, took off from Cross Keys Airport at 5:19 p.m. and was in the air for only four minutes before the incident. The crash is currently under investigation by multiple agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Monroe Township Police Department, and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. Halter mentioned that the plane remains at the crash site, where crews will continue their investigation throughout the night.
This small plane was previously involved in an incident in July 2023 at an airport in Suffolk, Virginia. In the final report issued by the NTSB, it was noted that the pilot was returning from her fifth skydive of the day when the aircraft veered off the runway during landing. The report indicated that the flare during landing was inadequate, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear. Consequently, the plane exited the runway and came to rest in the grass. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its engine mounts during this incident; however, the pilot did not report any mechanical failures that would have impeded normal operations. The NTSB attributed the cause of the crash to the pilot's inadequate landing flare.
As the investigation into the recent crash at Cross Keys Airport continues, authorities are focused on gathering more information to determine the factors that led to this alarming incident.
