Incident Details
On the evening of July 2, 2025, a Cessna 208B skydiving plane carrying fifteen people veered off the runway at Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown, New Jersey, and crashed into a wooded area, prompting first responders to declare a mass casualty event and rush victims to nearby hospitals cbsnews.com. According to local authorities, the emergency call arrived around 5:30 p.m., and aerial footage showed debris scattered among the trees with numerous fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles surrounding the scene 6abc.com. Flight tracking data indicated that the aircraft had been descending rapidly at over 3,000 feet per minute shortly before it left the runway, and the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management confirmed that the situation required a full scale medical response cbsnews.com.
Injuries and Medical Response
All fifteen individuals aboard were transported to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for treatment, with injuries reported as ranging from minimal to severe. Three victims were taken directly to the trauma center, eight received care for moderate injuries in the emergency department, and four with minor injuries were evaluated and prepared for discharge cbsnews.com. Emergency medical teams worked alongside hospital trauma surgeons on site to stabilize patients, and medical evacuation helicopters carried the most critical cases to Cooper University, demonstrating the benefit of recent joint training exercises held at the airport 6abc.com.
Aircraft Background
The single engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan involved in the crash is commonly used in skydiving operations for its reliability and capacity. NTSB records show that in 2023 this same airframe experienced a nose gear collapse during landing at an airport in Suffolk, Virginia, due to pilot error 6abc.com. The aircraft is owned by Arne Aviation LLC and leased to Skydive Cross Keys, the company operating at the Williamstown airfield, and it carried a full complement of skydivers and crew when the crash occurred.
Investigation Status
Federal Aviation Administration investigators arrived at the scene late Wednesday and began securing wreckage for examination, with an initial report expected within one business day cbsnews.com. Authorities will analyze flight data, weather conditions, maintenance logs, and eyewitness accounts to determine what caused the aircraft to leave the runway and crash into the woods. No official statement has yet come from Skydive Cross Keys, and the NTSB will also play a role in the final report.
Analysis
In my view, this crash highlights the narrow margin for error in skydiving operations and the importance of regular safety drills. The fact that crews had recently trained for mass casualty events at Cross Keys Airport likely saved lives by ensuring a swift coordinated response. Moreover, the aircraft’s prior gear collapse should remind operators and regulators to scrutinize older planes closely, especially those reused for high intensity activities. While no fatalities occurred, the incident underscores how even routine flights in small aircraft can become emergencies if mechanical issues or pilot decisions go awry.
