Twelve Killed as Skydiving Plane Crashes Near Butler, Missouri

MISSOURI, June 14: Twelve people were killed when a plane carrying skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff near Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, Missouri, authorities said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that all 12 people on board — the pilot and 11 passengers — died in the crash, which occurred shortly after the aircraft took off on Sunday morning.

Emergency responders said they received reports of a plane down and engulfed in flames around 11:30 a.m. Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze shortly after reaching the scene, which officials described as “brutal.”

The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, had been transporting skydivers when it went down in a field adjacent to the airport. Officials said the plane had just taken off and made a left turn before the crash.

Authorities said the pilot may have attempted to return to land after experiencing a possible loss of power, but the aircraft stalled and went down nose-first, catching fire on impact.

The plane involved was identified as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a single-engine turboprop commonly used for skydiving operations and other specialized flights. It can carry up to 17 skydivers and is known for short runway performance.

Investigators are examining the cause of the crash, while the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are expected to lead the inquiry.