A light skydiving plane with 15 aboard crashed in a wooded area after running past the end of the runway at Cross Keys Airport in southern New Jersey on Wednesday night, authorities have confirmed.
The crash was about 34 kilometers southeast of Philadelphia and drew a quick response from emergency personnel. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane was a Cessna 208B and that the incident is under investigation.
All 15 Passengers Hospitalized After Crash
Emergency personnel took all 15 individuals on board to the area hospitals. Three are being treated at Camden, New Jersey’s trauma center, said Wendy A. Marano, a spokesperson for Cooper University Hospital, and eight others with “less severe injuries” are being treated in the emergency department of the hospital.
Marano continued that four more patients with “minimal injuries” are being held pending further assessment. She, however, could not verify the extent of injuries on survivors of the crash.
“Staff members of the hospital’s EMS and trauma department were at the scene where the accident took place,” Marano added.
FAA Investigates: Debris Scattered Across Wooded Area
The FAA has meanwhile opened an investigation into the crash, which ultimately reduced the aircraft to multiple pieces of wreckage. Aerial images from the scene, furthermore, showed the aircraft scattered throughout a forested area, surrounded by firetrucks and emergency responders.
The Cessna 208B was being used as a skydiving aircraft when it veered off the end of the runway during what seemed to be an attempted takeoff or landing. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the incident.
Public Advised to Steer Clear of Crash Area
The Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management had released a public advisory to residents asking them to stay away from the scene so emergency personnel could have easy access to the area. The notice was posted on the agency’s official Facebook page.
The Cross Keys Airport, site of the accident, had no immediate details on the crash, according to Associated Press.
As the probe continues, the FAA and local authorities are likely to provide additional information regarding the reason and factors for the crash in the next few days.