3 remain critical in New Jersey skydiving plane crash: 'Something out of a movie'

Three people remain in critical condition after a skydiving plane with 15 people aboard crashed at a small airport in Williamstown, New Jersey on Wednesday.

Fourteen people were hospitalized following the crash, which investigators believe happened after the plane encountered a problem shortly after take-off and was returning to the airport.

What we know:

Emergency responders swarmed Cross Keys Airport on Wednesday in the early evening after a skydiving plane with 15 people aboard crashed into a wooded area near the runway. 

Monroe Township Police Chief John McBride was among the first people there and described the scene as "chaotic" and "something out of a movie." 

Fourteen people were hospitalized, including three severely injured passengers who were airlifted to Cooper University Hospital.  Police on Wednesday said eight crash victims remain in Cooper. 

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14 injured after skydiving aircraft crash in Gloucester County: officials

According to officials, a small aircraft crashed on the 1600 block of Tuckahoe Road, near Cross Keys Airport, on Wednesday, around 5:30 in the evening and 14 people on board were injured in the crash.

What they're saying:

"It was a pretty unbelievable scene," McBride told reporters less than 24-hours after the crash. "A plane crashing, itself, in 27 years being here, I've never seen something like that."

"Officers were hollering for assistance. Trying to calm everybody down. In the meantime, you have 14 people who are severely injured or appear to be severely injured, screaming in pain, yelling for help. Covered in jet fuel," McBride continued.

Officials say first responders recently ran a drill at Cross Keys Airport for a nearly identical scenario. They believe it helped emergency crews execute a near flawless response on Wednesday.

"When the units came together and everyone was operating – for something as chaotic as it seemed – everybody knew their job and everybody was doing it, and it was very impressive," Chief McBride said.

What we don't know:

Details about what exactly caused the plane to crash remain unknown, and will likely come from an FAA/NTSB investigation into the incident. 

Investigators were at the airport on Thursday to assess the crash site.

What's next:

Cross Keys Airport reopened Thursday and was preparing for its 4th of July skydiving event.

Gloucester CountyNews