On the evening of July 2, 2025, just after take off, a small skydiving aircraft crashed in Monroe Township, New Jersey.
The aircraft was operating out of Cross Keys Airport at the time. The aircraft was a Cessna 208B. After taking off from the runway, the aircraft landed in a wooded area off the airport property.
There were 15 people on the aircraft at the time of the crash. All, according to local officials were treated at local hospitals. Three of the injured were serious and were being admitted to the Cooper University Hospital Trauma center. The other injured party had minor injuries and were stable at the time. There were no fatalities reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate what caused the crash. The cause of the crash is unclear at this time. Investigators will be looking at the weather conditions, pilot actions, and the maintenance history of the aircraft.
Emergency responders arrived on scene quickly and secured the area. Emergency responders have several concerns for safety in the opening skydiver operations. It is not yet clear to investigate if any skydivers exited the aircraft when it crashed.
🚨 SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH — MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT 🇺🇸
— Sarcasm Scoop (@sarcasm_scoop) July 3, 2025
A Cessna with 15 aboard CRASHED into woods near Cross Keys Airport (NJ) during skydiving ops on July 2 around 5:30 PM.
🔥 All hospitalized:
▪️3 serious
▪️8 moderate
▪️4 minor
Pilot had to be extracted from wreckage. FAA… pic.twitter.com/1X3les91dG
Other Skydiving Plane Accidents Point to Broader Safety Concerns
While plane crashes involving skydiving operations are uncommon, there have been a few notable incidents in recent years that highlight potential risks in the activity.
In July 2024, a Cessna 208B crashed in Niagara County, New York, shortly after all skydivers had exited. The pilot, who was the only person left on board, died in the crash. The impact also sparked a brush fire. The cause of that crash is still under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Earlier in 2024, a skydiving plane in Switzerland went down after a parachute became tangled in part of the aircraft. While all the skydivers landed safely, the pilot did not survive.
This incident underscored how even experienced crews can face sudden hazards during a flight.
Experts say that while skydiving is generally safe when proper procedures are followed, accidents can happen due to unexpected mechanical problems, equipment failures, or human error.
These recent crashes serve as a reminder of the importance of strict safety standards, both on the ground and in the air, for skydiving flights.
