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A tragic plane crash occurred Sunday morning (June 14) near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, resulting in the deaths of 12 people. The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that all aboard, including 11 skydivers and the pilot, perished in the crash. The incident took place shortly before 11:30 a.m., about 60 miles south of Kansas City.
According to KARK, the plane, a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, was operated by Skydive Kansas City. It had just taken off when it reportedly turned around for an unknown reason before crashing and catching fire. Emergency responders quickly extinguished the flames, but the scene was described as "brutal" by Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing.
The Associated Press reported that the plane crashed in a field adjacent to the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash. Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager, speculated that the plane might have lost power, causing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing.
The small airport serves around 30 privately owned aircraft, including those used for crop dusting and skydiving. The skydiving season in the region typically runs from late March to November. San Mateo Daily Journal noted that the Pacific Aerospace 750XL is popular for skydiving due to its ability to carry up to 17 skydivers and operate on short runways.
The investigation is expected to continue for several days as authorities work to determine the cause of the crash.