The Cessna 208B experienced engine problems as it climbed, eventually crashing into a wooded area near Cross Keys Airport, located southeast of Philadelphia, around 5:30 pm local time, as reported by Andrew Halter from the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management.

The pilot tried to circle back and attempt to land the plane but was unsuccessful, he said at a news conference on Wednesday evening.

Passengers sustained injuries varying from minor to critical, Halter said.

Many passengers who were covered in jet fuel were decontaminated before being taken to the hospital, he said.

Out of the 15 people on board, 14 were transported to nearby hospitals, with three individuals in critical condition being evacuated by helicopter, Halter stated.

“It’s amazing that at this point there are no fatalities reported,” Halter said.

“Just the fact that we have 15 people that are still with us here today, some with minor injuries, I think is fantastic and remarkable.”

Helicopter video from CNN affiliate WPVI showed multiple stretchers being wheeled out of the woods to medical evacuation helicopters.

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates the plane was dropping rapidly at a rate of 3008 feet (916 metres) per minute shortly before the tracking data ceased.

The aircraft involved belonged to a Virginia company and is being leased by a skydiving centre in Monroe Township, according to authorities.

It was involved in a 2023 incident in which the nose gear collapsed during landing due to a pilot error, according to records from the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigated the incident.

The aircraft sustained extensive damage, and ongoing investigations will determine the exact cause of the crash, according to Halter.

The crash site is under investigation by the Monroe Township Police Department, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, the FAA and the NTSB, authorities said.

Once the investigation has concluded, the aircraft will be removed from the crash site and contaminants on the ground will be cleaned, authorities said.