The FAA confirmed that 20 people were on board the aircraft, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, which took off from Tullahoma Regional Airport just before the crash.
Four people were injured after a twin-engine skydiving plane carrying 20 people crashed in Coffee County, Tennessee, on Sunday afternoon, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Those with serious injuries were airlifted to nearby hospitals, officials told The New York Times.
The incident occurred around 12:45 PM local time on Old Shelbyville Road, near the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma. The Tennessee Highway Patrol initially reported on social media: “Initial reports suggest 16-20 people were on board. Some have been airlifted to nearby hospitals. This is an active scene. Local officials will update.”
The FAA confirmed that 20 people were aboard the aircraft, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, which had taken off from Tullahoma Regional Airport shortly before the crash.
Terry Janiak, a 66-year-old neighbour who lives opposite the airport, witnessed the crash, which appeared to occur near the museum and before the runway. “The cockpit area looked pretty rough on the aeroplane,” he told The New York Times.
Sheila Stone, a 57-year-old resident who has lived opposite the airport for 20 years, was on her back porch with her dogs when the plane flew unusually low overhead, making her fear it might hit the tall trees in her garden.
“How he cleared that tree is a miracle,” Stone said. She added that the plane seemed to be aiming for the airport’s main runway when it clipped a tree. One wing reportedly struck a tree near the museum.
“I’ve never been that scared,” she said. “I have aeroplanes flying over daily, but never that low and close to my house, thinking it’s about to crash in my garden.”
Details about the condition of those on board have not yet been released by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Local media reported that the plane was used for skydiving expeditions.