Fifteen Injured After Skydiving Plane Crashes Near Cross Keys Airport in New Jersey
- Victor Nwoko
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
Fifteen people were hospitalized after a skydiving aircraft experienced engine trouble and crashed during an attempted emergency landing near Cross Keys Airport in southern New Jersey on Wednesday evening.
The crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. when a single-engine Cessna 208B carrying 15 individuals went down near the airport, located approximately 21 miles southeast of Philadelphia, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plane had reported engine trouble shortly after takeoff and attempted to return to the runway before crashing in a wooded area.
Gloucester County Emergency Management official Andrew Halter said during a press briefing that the aircraft tried to circle back for a landing but was unable to complete it successfully. The plane sustained significant damage on impact.
“The fact that we have 15 people still with us today, some with only minor injuries, is both fantastic and remarkable,” Halter stated. Several passengers were reportedly covered in jet fuel and required decontamination before being transported to area hospitals.
Aerial footage from the crash site showed the wreckage of the aircraft in a forested area, surrounded by emergency response vehicles. Debris was visible scattered across the site.
Wendy A. Marano, spokesperson for Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, confirmed that three crash victims were being evaluated at the trauma center, while eight others were being treated in the emergency department. Four additional individuals with minor injuries were awaiting further assessment. Specific details about the nature of the injuries were not immediately disclosed.
Emergency medical services and trauma teams from the hospital were dispatched directly to the crash location.
Authorities identified the aircraft as being owned and operated by ARNE Aviation, based in Virginia, and leased to Skydive Cross Keys. Skydive Cross Keys, which operates out of the Cross Keys Airport, has not released a statement regarding the incident. ARNE Aviation’s office confirmed their involvement but declined to provide details, requesting further inquiries be made the following day.
A representative at Cross Keys Airport stated that no information was available and referred questions to Skydive Cross Keys.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation into the crash and is leading efforts to determine the cause. The FAA is also participating in the investigation.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy acknowledged the incident on social media, stating he had been briefed and confirmed that there were no fatalities reported at this time.
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