The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was supposed to be just another routine ascent—a short climb into the summer sky before a group of thrill-seekers hurled themselves into the open air.
Instead, the plane faltered, its engine sputtering, and at 5:20 p.m. on July 2, it veered off the runway at Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown, New Jersey, plowing into the trees at the edge of the airfield.
When the first responders arrived, the scene was chaos.
The aircraft, leased to Skydive Cross Keys and carrying 14 passengers and a pilot, lay crumpled in the woods, its metal frame twisted and split.
Jet fuel soaked the ground, clinging to the injured as they called out for help.
Monroe Township Police Chief John McBride, one of the first on scene, described the wreckage as a “pile of metal stuck in the trees,” debris scattered like confetti across the crash site. Crews had to cut through fallen timber just to reach survivors.
The pilot, trapped in the wreckage, had to be extracted by emergency crews. He had radioed in engine trouble moments after takeoff, attempting an emergency landing before losing control.
The plane, owned by Arne Aviation LLC, had reportedly undergone recent FAA inspections and was up to date on maintenance, according to Skydive Cross Keys.
Fourteen people were transported to hospitals—three in critical condition, their injuries severe enough to require medical helicopter transport to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.
Others suffered fractures, blunt force trauma, and the acrid sting of fuel on their skin, requiring decontamination before ambulances could take them away. One passenger refused treatment.
Andrew Halter of Gloucester County Emergency Management called it “fantastic and remarkable” that all 15 on board survived.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation, a process that could stretch for years, dissecting maintenance logs, weather conditions, and the pilot’s flight history.
For now, the skydiving operation has been grounded. Residents near the airport, long accustomed to low-flying planes, voiced unease.
“Some of them planes come so close down to our house that it’s crazy,” said Sierra Kelly of Williamstown. “I have kids in there. Who knows if they’re going to crash into our house?”
The skydiving company released a statement praising the pilot’s composure and the swift response of emergency crews. Skydive Cross Keys said three people were unhurt and none of the injuries is thought to be life-threatening.