A skydiving trip turned into a terrifying ordeal on Wednesday evening after a small aircraft went down shortly after takeoff at Cross Keys Airport, injuring 14 of the 15 people on board.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene on North Tuckahoe Road just before 5:30 p.m. after reports of a plane crash triggered a mass casualty response, officials confirmed.
According to Andrew Halter from the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management, the Cessna 208B had taken off at 5:19 p.m. but was airborne for just four minutes before tragedy struck. The pilot reportedly experienced engine failure and attempted to circle back for a landing… but the plane crashed near a wooded area by the airport.
Three critically injured passengers were airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. Eight others were also rushed there by ambulance, while three were transported to Inspira Medical Center in Mullica Hill. One person declined medical treatment at the scene. The pilot is among those hurt.
Some victims were drenched in jet fuel following the crash, intensifying the urgency of the response.
“It’s honestly a miracle no one lost their life,” said Halter. “Thanks to the fast action of police, firefighters, EMS crews, and recent mass casualty training held right here at the airport, lives were likely saved today.”
The plane, which had been preparing for a skydiving jump, remains at the scene as the investigation continues. The FAA, NTSB, Monroe Township Police, and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office are all involved in the probe. Officials have not yet released details about how high the aircraft ascended before crashing.
Emergency personnel are expected to remain on-site throughout the night as investigators comb through the wreckage.
