Three men remained hospitalized in critical condition and five others were in serious condition Thursday morning after a skydiving plane with 15 people on board crashed the previous night in southern New Jersey.

The incident involved a single-engine Cessna 208B which, shortly after taking off from Cross Keys Airport, about 21 miles (34 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, reported engine trouble and tried to return.

According to an initial report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane struck trees while attempting to land, ultimately crashing in a wooded area near the runway.

Wendy A. Marano, a spokeswoman for Cooper University Hospital, said that all eight patients admitted suffered blunt force trauma, including extremity injuries and soft tissue damage, ABC News reported.

Andrew Halter of the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management explained that the plane tried to maneuver to return to the airport, but was unsuccessful. He noted that some of the people on board were covered in fuel and required decontamination before being taken to the hospital.

“For us to have 15 people still with us today, some with minor injuries, is truly remarkable,” Halter said.

Aerial images showed the destroyed aircraft in the trees, surrounded by fire trucks and emergency vehicles.

The plane is owned by Virginia-based ARNE Aviation and was leased to Skydive Cross Keys, which operates in the area and said it would issue a statement later.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed it is investigating the crash.