BUTLER, Mo. (AP) — A plane carrying passengers for a skydiving trip crashed on Sunday in Missouri, resulting in the deaths of all 12 individuals on board, according to authorities. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that troopers were on the scene, assisting the Butler Police Department and Bates County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred near Butler Memorial Airport, located in Butler, a town with a population of approximately 4,300, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Kansas City.
Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing stated that the plane was in the process of taking passengers up for skydiving when emergency responders received a call about the crash, which was reported around 11:30 a.m. Emergency crews were able to extinguish the fire shortly after the incident. Ewing described the scene as severe, noting that the plane landed in a field adjacent to the airport, prompting the closure of nearby roadways as a precaution.
Teams from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were dispatched to the crash site for investigation, as confirmed by the Missouri State Patrol. Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director, indicated that the private plane was operated by Skydive Kansas City. He noted that the aircraft had just taken off and made a left turn before the crash, suggesting it may have been losing power while attempting to reach the highway for a landing.
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a single-engine turboprop aircraft popular for skydiving, can accommodate up to 17 skydivers and is also utilized for cargo, aerial surveying, and medical evacuation flights. FAA records indicate that the crashed plane was manufactured in 2010. The small airport serves around 30 privately owned aircraft, including those for crop dusting and skydiving operations. Skydiving companies in the area typically operate for eight to nine months each year, with the season generally beginning in late March or early April and continuing into October or November. A representative from Skydive Kansas City declined to comment on the incident.