• Source:JND
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A skydiving twin-engine plane with 20 aboard crashed Sunday afternoon near Old Shelbyville Road in Coffee County, Tennessee, injuring at least four people, Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) officials and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said. The accident happened at approximately 12:45 PM (local time) mere minutes after the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft had taken off from Tullahoma Regional Airport. The aircraft was said to be headed for a skydiving expedition when it crashed near the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.

4 Injured, Airlifted To Hospitals

In its first report on social media, the Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that "16–20 individuals were on board" and that a number of them had been airlifted to surrounding hospitals with severe injuries. As of Sunday evening, the identities and condition of those on board had not been released. The FAA later confirmed that there were 20 people on board the plane, often utilized for skydiving operations. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the reason for the crash. Local residents described the frightening moment the aircraft went down. Terry Janiak, a 66-year-old resident who lives across from the airport, told The New York Times that the crash happened just short of the runway and near the museum. “The cockpit area looked pretty rough on the airplane,” Janiak said. Another nearby resident, 57-year-old Sheila Stone, recounted watching the aircraft fly unusually low over her home. "How he got that tree out of the way is a miracle," she remarked. "One of the wings allegedly hit a tree close to the museum. I have never been that frightened. I thought it was going to crash in my backyard," she said to the New York Times

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Emergency personnel from several agencies, such as police, fire, and EMS units, responded to the scene. Photos from the crash site revealed debris and responders working along the crash area, which was marked off as part of the investigation in progress. Officials have asked the public to stay away from the site so emergency responders and investigators have complete access.

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The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) both opened an investigation to find the cause of the crash. Early reports indicate that the plane might have had a mechanical problem or lost altitude suddenly shortly after takeoff. Though FAA and NTSB haven't released any official statement yet.

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