KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

City officials held a press conference Sunday evening at the Tullahoma Municipal Airport to provide updates regarding the twin-engine airplane that crashed earlier in the day.

According to Tullahoma Community Engagement Officer Lyle Russell, at around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, a plane crash occurred near Tullahoma Municipal Airport and Beechcraft Heritage Museum. There were no ground facilities or airport or airport facilities were damaged and there were no injuries were reported from the ground, per Russell. He would confirm the plane was a skydiving plane, a DeHaviland DH-6 Twin Otter, with Skydive Tennessee.

“We are grateful the injuries were limited, and our hearts and minds are with those who went through this accident and their upcoming recovery,” Russell said.

During the press conference, City Administrator Jason Quick said the plane had 20 people aboard, including the crew, and said shortly after takeoff, the plane experienced “an unknown issue” that resulted in an impact on trees and terrain. Skydive Tennessee would later clarify that the total headcount of people on the plane was 21, which included the pilot. 

“Tullahoma Police and Tullahoma Fire were on scene in minutes, along with Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Coffee County Emergency Management Service, and Coffee County Ambulance Service,” Quick said. “We are grateful for their rapid response and hard work throughout the day.”

Of the 20 passengers, six needed more than care than what could have been given on site. According to Russell, of the six, two were sent by helicopter and four by ground transport at first. 

“After arrival at the medical facility, personnel there determine one of the ones by ground needed care at a different facility,” Russell said in a follow-up statement. “So, they helicoptered that person after the fact.” 

In total, seven passengers were injured and transported, but there were only six transported after the accident. 

“All other passengers were treated for minor injuries and were treated on scene by our first responders,” Quick said.

Quick added that at this time, the City of Tullahoma has been advised by the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) that they will be releasing a statement and taking over the investigation into this accident.

“The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is on scene now and working with our local airport personnel,” Quick said. “The NTSB has requested that any further media inquiries into this accident be directed to their media relations department.”

Skydive Tennessee also released a statement regarding the crash. It reads as follows:

“As many of you have likely heard, there was an aircraft incident at our operation yesterday that has left us all stunned.

“Firstly and most importantly, we are incredibly thankful that there were no fatalities. Six people, including our pilot, were taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution—all were alert and talking at the scene. Several have since been released.

“The incident occurred following an aborted takeoff, resulting in a crash on airport property. Emergency responders were on the scene within minutes, and we’re deeply grateful for their swift, professional care.

“Since the moment it happened, our focus has been on supporting those involved and working with the appropriate authorities to understand exactly what occurred. The aircraft was current on all required maintenance inspections at the time of the flight.

“We know many have been waiting to hear from us. We’ve taken time to gather accurate information and ensure those directly affected were cared for before sharing publicly.

“As always, safety remains our highest priority, and we’re committed to learning everything we can from this incident. We also recognize that events like this affect more than just those on board. Our thoughts are with our extended team and community as we all process what happened.

“We’re deeply grateful for the concern and support we’ve received from the skydiving community and beyond. Thank you for your patience, kindness, and understanding as we move forward, one step at a time.”

The press conference was livestreamed on the City of Tullahoma’s Facebook page. Watch the press conference on our website here.

John Coffelt contributed to this story.