Skydiving plane careers off runway and crashes into woods leaving 15 people injured

Fifteen people have been rushed to hospital following a skydivingplane crash after the aircraft reported engine trouble post takeoff, authorities have confirmed.

The horror crash happened at around 5:30pm local time at Cross Keys Airport, approximately 21 miles southeast of Philadelphia, as per the Federal Aviation Administration. It involved a single-engine Cessna 208B, carrying 15 passengers.

"The plane did try to circle back and attempt a landing we are told but was unsuccessful in that attempt," stated Andrew Halter from Gloucester County Emergency Management during a press briefing on Wednesday evening.

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Injuries varied from minor to critical, with the plane suffering severe damage, according to Halter. Some passengers, drenched in jet fuel, required decontamination prior to hospital admission. Halter added: "Just the fact that we have 15 people that are still with us here today, some with minor injuries, I think is fantastic and remarkable."

Aerial footage revealed the crashed plane in woodland, surrounded by scattered debris. Fire engines and other emergency vehicles were seen attending the scene, reports the Mirror US.

Three individuals have been rushed to the trauma centre at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, while another eight people are receiving care for less significant injuries, according to spokesperson Wendy A. Marano. Four more patients with "minimal injuries" await evaluation, added Wendy A. Marano. She could not specify the types of injuries sustained.

Hospital staff from Cooper's EMS and trauma department have been deployed to the crash scene, she confirmed.

The National Transportation Safety Board revealed on social media that it has commenced an investigation into the incident. In a post on X they wrote: "NTSB is investigating Wednesday’s crash of a Cessna 208 airplane near Cross Keys, New Jersey. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

The Mirror has contacted Skydive Cross Keys for comment.