Eleven Skydivers, Pilot Killed In Missouri Plane Crash
Eleven Skydivers, Pilot Killed in Missouri Plane Crash Eleven skydivers and a pilot were killed after a plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Butler Memorial Airport in the US state of Missouri, authorities and the aircraft operator confirmed on Sunday. The aircraft, identified as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL single-engine turboprop operated by Skydive Kansas City, went down moments after departing from Butler Memorial Airport, approximately 60 miles south of Kansas City. All 12 people on board died in the crash. According to local officials, the aircraft took off at around 11:20 a.m. local time but failed to gain sufficient altitude. Witnesses reported seeing the plane make a sharp left turn before it crashed in a field roughly 300 yards from the runway and burst into flames. Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and director of the local emergency management agency, said preliminary observations suggested the aircraft may have experienced a loss of power shortly after takeoff. He indicated the pilot may have attempted an emergency landing before the plane stalled and crashed. However, officials stressed that the exact cause remains under investigation. Emergency responders, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, local police, firefighters and sheriff’s deputies, rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a plane engulfed in flames. Authorities described the crash site as devastating, with family members of some passengers reportedly witnessing the tragedy from the ground. The victims included experienced skydivers as well as individuals preparing for tandem jumps. Their identities have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin. In a statement, Skydive Kansas City expressed condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and said it was cooperating fully with investigators. The company added that grief counselling and support services were being arranged for affected families and staff. The investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators will examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, operational records, weather conditions and other factors that may have contributed to the crash. Officials cautioned that a final report could take more than a year to complete. The accident is being described as one of the deadliest skydiving-related aircraft crashes in the United States in recent decades and has renewed scrutiny of safety practices and maintenance standards within the skydiving industry.
- Location Near Butler Memorial Airport, Missouri, United States.
- Fatalities 12 11 skydivers and 1 pilot.
- Aircraft Pacific Aerospace 750XL.
- Operator Skydive Kansas City.
- Status Investigation ongoing by the NTSB and FAA.
