Creating a nightmarish scene just before sunset, a skydiving plane crashed last evening, sending 14 people to the hospital after being drenched in potentially explosive jet fuel.
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The disaster adds to a troubling pattern of aviation incidents across America that have left many questioning whether proper safety protocols are being followed as planes continue falling from the sky.
The Cessna 208B, commonly used for skydiving operations, experienced engine trouble around 5:25 p.m. while carrying skydivers and crew members.
The pilot attempted to return to the runway but was unable to do so, crashing into trees in a wooded area near the Gloucester County airport.
Emergency responders quickly declared a mass casualty incident at the scene.
Among the 15 people aboard, three victims are in critical condition while eight others suffered less severe injuries. One person refused medical treatment at the scene.
Gloucester County Emergency Management official Andrew Halter described the damage as “extensive.”
First responders had to decontaminate victims before transport to hospitals due to jet fuel contamination, adding another layer of danger to an already harrowing situation.
The aircraft belonged to Arne Aviation LLC and was leased to Skydive Cross Keys, which ironically promotes itself as the “happiest dropzone on the East Coast.”
Still, this recent accident suggests their safety record may not live up to their cheerful marketing.
Local residents expressed legitimate fears about the regular air traffic overhead.
A resident who lives near the airport voiced concerns that many Americans share about the growing danger of aviation accidents.
“Some of them planes come so close down to our house that it’s crazy. I have kids in there. Who knows if they’re going to crash into our house,” she recounted.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend of recent aviation disasters across America.
Aviation expert Jason Matzus described the pattern as “random clustering.”
Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash; however, serious questions remain about why these incidents continue to occur with alarming frequency.
Earlier this year, the country witnessed a deadly mid-air collision, and multiple other crashes have occurred, including one involving a wealthy family in a Cessna 441 jet.
As skydiving operations continue at facilities across the country with minimal oversight, this latest incident raises concerns about whether adventure tourism companies are maintaining proper equipment and adhering to strict safety protocols to protect their paying customers.
14 INJURED AFTER SKYDIVING PLANE CRASHES AT CROSS KEYS AIRPORT IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJhttps://t.co/dUgKNoPjQ4 https://t.co/viJaeJ4kZ0
— NC Airspace (@NCAirspace) July 3, 2025
