Panic ensued at a small airport in New Jersey on Wednesday afternoon (7/2), when a Cessna 208B aircraft carrying 15 passengers veered off the landing runway, causing injuries to multiple people.
New Jersey: Aircraft runs off runway at airport – Three injured
According to local authorities, the pilot reported engine mechanical failure during takeoff from Cross Keys Airport, southeast of Philadelphia, around 5:30 PM and subsequently attempted to return for an emergency landing, but without success.
A total of 14 people were transported to the hospital, while three injuredpatients are hospitalized in critical condition. As stated by Gloucester County Emergency Management spokesperson Andrew Halter: “It’s a miracle that we don’t have any loss of life so far”. He added: “The fact that all 15 people are still with us is truly remarkable”.
Had been involved in previous incident
The aircraft belongs to a Virginia-based company and is leased by a skydiving center in Monroe Township. According to authorities, the same aircraft had been involved in a previous incident in 2023, when due to pilot error, the front landing gear collapsed during landing, causing serious damage.
According to CNN, the investigation into the causes of the accident is ongoing.
