Skydiving plane crashes at Cross Keys Airport in Gloucester County, New Jersey: 15 injured, some critical

7NEWS

03-07-2025

A skydiving plane carrying 15 people has crashed in the US, with passengers discovered by emergency crews covered in jet fuel, some in a critical condition.
The plane, which was carrying 14 passengers and one pilot, took off from Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown before it crashed into a tree, causing extensive damage and leaving some passengers fighting for life.
The emergency call came through around 5.30pm local time, with first responders finding passengers covered in fuel and in urgent need of medical assistance.
'Patients were decontaminated prior to being transported to the hospital. There were 15 souls on board the aircraft, including the pilot,' Andrew Halter from Gloucester County Emergency Management said.
'The pilot was reportedly in an ascent at that point, and again reported some engine trouble, and that's when he was trying to circle back to make it back down onto the ground but was unable to do so,' Mr Halter said.
Local outlet 6abc reported that 14 people, including the pilot, were hospitalised, but a 15th person refused medical assistance.
Residents from the area told the outlet that planes come in low, close to houses, sharing safety concerns.
'Some of them planes come so close down to our house that it's crazy. I have kids in there. Who knows if they're going to crash into our house,' one resident said.
The aircraft, a Cessna 208B was reportedly owned by a private company and leased to Skydive Cross Keys. The National Transportation Safety Board are now investigating.