Tullahoma, Tennessee – A skydiving aircraft carrying 20 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Tullahoma Regional Airport on Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2025. In a miraculous turn of events, all occupants aboard the twin-engine plane survived the accident.
The incident occurred between 12:30 PM and 12:45 PM local time as the plane attempted to take off from the airport, located south of Nashville. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by "Skydive Tennessee," a professional skydiving company.
Witnesses reported that the plane encountered an unspecified issue immediately after liftoff, then collided with trees and terrain before crashing. Some reports also indicated that the aircraft grazed trees during its ascent. The crash site was an open grassy field near Old Shelbyville Road, close to the airport. The plane was found with its nose embedded in the ground and parts of its tail and wings detached. Photos from the scene showed damaged aircraft debris alongside emergency response vehicles.
Emergency services quickly responded to the site and conducted medical assessments on all occupants. Initial reports from AFP stated that four people were transported to the hospital, with later updates confirming a total of six hospitalizations. Three individuals were airlifted by helicopter, one was transported by ground, and two others were also taken to hospitals. At least two of the injured were initially reported to be in critical condition, but all were conscious and able to communicate. Other occupants with minor injuries received treatment from emergency responders at the scene. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
Lyle Russell, spokesperson for the City of Tullahoma, officially announced, "There were no fatalities or serious injuries." He added that there was no damage to ground facilities or airport infrastructure, and no ground injuries were reported.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are jointly investigating to determine the exact cause of the accident. The wreckage of the crashed plane has been transported to Springfield, Tennessee, for further analysis. Tullahoma Regional Airport is known for its active skydiving operations, and this incident has drawn significant attention to its potential impact on the local community and aviation safety. Authorities plan to establish measures to prevent similar incidents based on the investigation's findings.
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