US: Skydiving plane crashes in Missouri, all 12 on board killed

A plane carrying passengers on a skydiving trip crashed near an airport in Missouri on Sunday, killing all 12 people on board, authorities said.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the aircraft went down near Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, a town located about 65 miles south of Kansas City. Troopers were assisting local law enforcement agencies at the scene.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing said the aircraft was transporting people for a skydiving activity when it crashed. Emergency responders received reports of a plane engulfed in flames at around 11:30 am local time.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze shortly after arriving at the scene. Ewing described the crash site as “brutal”.

The aircraft came down in a field adjacent to the airport, prompting authorities to restrict access to nearby roads as a precaution.

Investigation underway

The crash will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), officials said.

The aircraft involved was a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a single-engine turboprop widely used by skydiving operators. The model is also employed for cargo transport, aerial surveys and medical evacuation missions.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the aircraft was manufactured in 2010 and could carry up to 17 skydivers. It is designed to operate from short runways.

Victims yet to be identified

Authorities have not yet released details regarding the identities, ages or hometowns of the victims.

Butler Memorial Airport serves around 30 privately owned aircraft, including those operated by crop-dusting businesses and skydiving companies.

Skydiving operations in the region typically run from late March or early April through October or November. A representative who answered the phone at Skydive Kansas City declined to comment on the incident.