āļø What happened
⢠On June 8, a de Havilland Canada DHCā6 Twin Otter carrying 20 people (19 skydivers + 1 pilot) crashed just after takeoff at Tullahoma Regional Airport, about 75āÆmi south of Nashville .
⢠The aircraft reportedly experienced an aborted takeoff, then veered off runway into trees and rough terrain
š„ Survivor Accounts & Medical Updates
⢠Justin Fuller āSpideyā, a veteran skydiving instructor on board, shared that he emerged āwithout a scratchā and is āextremely blessed,ā while praising the pilot for saving everyone onboard ļæ¼.
⢠A total of six people were hospitalizedāthree airlifted, one by ground transport, and others treated on-site. As of now, the pilot remains in critical condition, and two others are seriously hurt ļæ¼.
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š Crash Details & Investigation
⢠The DHCā6 Twin Otter, registered N166DH and maintained by Randigo Aviation for Skydive Tennessee, aborted its takeoff, clipped trees, and crashed into rough terrain just past the runway. It reportedly split in two, suffering major damage ļæ¼.
⢠The FAA conducted immediate interviews; the NTSB is now leading the crash investigation, which includes cockpit voice recorder retrieval (though the aircraft wasnāt required to have one), aircraft maintenance records review, and witness statements ļæ¼.
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š„ Visual Evidence
š Community & Operator Response
⢠Skydive Tennessee confirmed the aircraft was up-to-date on all maintenance checks and expressed gratitude toward first responders and their community, stating their priority is determining the cause and supporting those affected .
⢠Local residents witnessed the crash aftermath and described the rescue as ātruly a miracle,ā thankful that no one on the ground was harmed .
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Whatās Next
1. NTSB will release a preliminary report in the coming days, outlining probable causes and initial findings.
2. FAA will evaluate any procedural or operational lapses, and Skydive Tennessee may adjust their safety protocols accordingly.
3. Updates on the pilotās and other injured passengersā recoveries will likely follow.
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This remarkable survivalā20 people onboard, no fatalities, six injuriesāhas resonated deeply. The focus now is on understanding exactly what went wrong during takeoff and ensuring steps are taken so it doesnāt happen again.