A skydiving aircraft carrying 15 people crashed at Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown, New Jersey, on Wednesday, officials said, sending 14 people to local hospitals and leaving three in critical condition.

The outcome "could have been much worse," said the representative of Skydive Cross Keys, which has operated since 1994 at Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown. It said a Cessna 208B carrying 15 people developed "mechanical issues" at roughly 3,000 feet, minutes after taking off at about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Cross Keys Airport, a privately owned airfield known for skydiving, has a history of incidents, including fatal crashes in 1986 (low visibility landing) and 1996 (emergency engine-out maneuvers), and a 2023 skydiving death due to parachute failure.