Plane crash at Cross Keys Airport causes 'mass casualty incident'

A skydiving trip went horribly awry when a small-engine plane crashed at a New Jersey airport, with nearly everyone on board being rushed to the hospital.

The Cessna 208B carrying 15 people went off the end of the runway while leaving Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown on Wednesday around 5:30pm, the FAA told the Daily Mail.  

While authorities are still investigating what caused the crash that left three victims in critical condition, an investigator revealed the pilot reported engine issues before it happened. 

Horrifying video shows victims being rolled from the scene on stretchers, with victims headed to the Cooper University Hospital in Camden, roughly 20 miles away. 

Five medical transport helicopters were also deployed to urgently assist the injured. First responders seen swarming the wooded area near the runaway. 

Fourteen people on board were hospitalized in various conditions, 6ABC reported. The remaining person refused medical attention at the scene. 

The three critical victims had to be airlifted in, and the other injuries seem to be minor, Andrew Halter with Gloucester County Emergency Management told the outlet. 

Before being rescued from the ruins, one passenger was trapped inside the plane as it reportedly leaked about 50 gallons of dangerous jet fuel, according to Channel2Now. 

Halter said many victims were dowsed in fuel when first responders arrived, but were 'decontaminated' before being taken to the hospital.  

The public is urged to remain clear of the area as authorities work to mitigate the danger. 

Halter revealed the pilot reported engine issues in the chilling moments leading up to the tragedy. 

'The pilot was reportedly in an ascent at that point, and again reported some engine trouble, and that's when he was trying to circle back to make it back down onto the ground but was unable to do so,' he told 6ABC.  

Gloucester County Emergency Management earlier confirmed the harrowing incident in a Facebook post, writing it is a 'multi-agency mass casualty incident.' 

The Washington Township Fire Department is assisting units from Monroe Township in their response efforts. 

Mayor Gregory Wolfe of Monroe Township said he received 'personal phone calls' from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and several other politicians offering assistance.

'At this time, there are fortunately no fatalities reported,' he wrote at about 9pm on Tuesday. 

The FAA is actively investigating the crash.  

Cross Keys Airport is a small and privately-owned airport that primarily caters to private and recreational flyers. It only has one 3,500-foot long runway. 

There is also a skydiving operation, Skydive Cross Keys, running out of the airport. The Cessna 208B was a skydiving aircraft. 

A person who answered the phone at Cross Keys Airport told The Associated Press he had no information and referred questions to Skydive Cross Keys.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the airport and Skydive Cross Keys for comment.