A skydiving plane carrying 12 people crashed in a field near Butler, Missouri, on Sunday, killing everyone on board, authorities confirmed. The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, went down shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport, bursting into flames.
Crash Details
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that troopers responded to the scene alongside the Butler Police Department and Bates County Sheriff's Office. The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m., with emergency crews finding the wreckage engulfed in fire.
Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing stated that the plane was ferrying skydivers for a recreational jump. The aircraft attempted a left turn after takeoff but appeared to lose power, stalled, and nosedived into the ground, according to Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director.
Emergency Response
First responders extinguished the blaze quickly, but described the scene as "brutal." A heap of blue and silver mangled metal lay in the grass near the airport, with emergency vehicles lining the adjacent road. Officials closed the roadway as a precaution.
Jacobs said responders checked the area under the flight path and found no evidence of anyone jumping before the crash. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Investigation Underway
Teams from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were en route to the site Sunday afternoon to determine what factors contributed to the tragedy. Ewing noted that it is too early to speculate on the cause.
Butler, a small town of about 4,300 people, is located roughly 65 miles south of Kansas City. The crash has deeply shaken the local community.
