Crash crash of a small skydiving plane at Cross Keys Airport
Fifteen people were on the plane. This included pilots as the plane descended into a large wooded area of Gloucester County.
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The skydiving plane that exited the runway and crashed into a forest near a small New Jersey airport experienced “mechanical issues” just minutes after taking off, the skydiving company said in a statement on July 3.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the single-engine Cessna 208B left the runway at around 5:30pm on July 2nd, leaving Crosskeys Airport in southern New Jersey. The aircraft carried 15 people, including pilots.
Skydive Cross Keys, which has been operating at Cross Keys Airport since 1994, said the aircraft developed a “mechanical problem” about 3,000 feet after takeoff, according to Cherry Hill Courier-Post, part of the USA Today Network. The pilot, known as “experienced,” returned for an emergency landing, but the plane left the runway and struck a wooded area, the company said.
The company noted that the plane was the latest in all scheduled maintenance and had been undergoing FAA inspections on a regular basis recently. It added that it is working with the FAA and local governments “to determine the root cause of the incident.”
The company said the outcome “may have been much worse,” and expressed relief that no one has crashed and died. Authorities said 14 people were hospitalized after the incident, including three people who remained in danger at New Jersey Hospital as of July 3.
The casualty’s injuries ranged from minors to minors, but “it is not considered life-threatening,” the company said. It added that several victims who were taken to the hospital were subsequently discharged.
“We are extremely grateful for the pilot’s skills and calmness, and their actions help keep everyone alive,” the company said. “We are also deeply grateful to the emergency responders who arrived very quickly and took 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 explains the chaos scene after the plane crashes
In its first report, posted on July 3, the FAA said the aircraft experienced engine problems after its departure and “fallen a crash while returning to the airport after a runway excursion to the tree.” Officials said the plane was owned and operated by Arne Aviation in Virginia and was leased to Skydive Cross Keys.
Andrew Halter said the pilot reported “engine troubles” before the crash, along with Gloucester County emergency management. The plane tried to return to land, but according to Halter, the attempt failed.
At a July 3rd press conference, Monroe Township Police Chief John McBride explained that the scene was confusing as paramedics responded quickly and provided assistance. The police chief said the plane had been damaged “very extensively” and debris had spread throughout the area.
“The plane was completely broken and it had exceeded repairs,” McBride said at a press conference. “It just looked like a big pile of metal, and people were just raw it.”
According to McBride, the aircraft was promoted among several trees and stuck between several trees.
McBride added that the victim was covered in jet fuel, and some heard screaming in pain as they tried to sail between the fallen trees and debris. He said the victim, who suffered minor injuries, helped those with more severe injuries.
Officials said the official cause of the crash fall remains under investigation, led by the Monro Township Police Department, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the FAA. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating crashes and will provide additional information if available.
14 passengers recovering from a crash
At a press conference on July 3, Holter said one passenger refused treatment on the scene and 14 people were taken to hospital for treatment.
According to Halter, 11 people were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden by medical helicopters. The other three were taken by ambulance to Inspira Medical Center in Mullica Hill.
As of late at night on July 3, Halter said three people were listed in dangerous conditions and eight were being treated at Cooper University Hospital. He added that many of the victims suffered various limb injuries, including upper and lower limbs.
McBride told the passenger who refused treatment that he had facial injuries and care needed, but in response the man said, “It’s so cool to tell the woman later.”
The police chief noted that the man remained at the crash site to ensure that other passengers were safe.
