More than a dozen people were injured on July 2, when their plane crashed shortly after departing Cross Keys Airport, according to Monroe Township Mayor Greg Wolfe.
Township police, the Williamstown Fire Department and Gloucester County EMS responded to the crash at 5:25 p.m. A preliminary investigation revealed that the aircraft – with 14 passengers and one pilot on board – departed the airport and was immediately attempting to return there when it crashed into a wooded area, Wolfe said in a social media post.
The Cessna 208 Caravan was carrying a group from Skydive Cross Keys when the pilot reported engine trouble, according to reports. The injuried passengers were taken to Cooper and Inspira hospitals with minor to critical injuries, police said; one refused medical treatment at the scene.
“At this time, there are fortunately no fatalities reported,” Wolfe said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was on scene and its investigation is ongoing. Wolfe said he got immediate, personal phone calls from Gov. Phil Murphy, state Sen. Paul Moriarty, Assemblyman Cody Miller and Assemblyman Dan Hutchinson offering their assistance.
The mayor thanked all first responders who responded to the scene and immediately began treating victims.
“We also would like to thank the medical teams from Cooper Hospital who also responded directly to the scene to treat the victims,” Wolfe said.
