A tragic aviation accident occurred on Sunday morning when a plane carrying skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff near Butler Memorial Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 12 people on board.
Crash Details
The aircraft went down around 11:30 a.m. on airport property after departing from the Butler airport, according to Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson during a Sunday afternoon news conference. The plane was carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot, as confirmed by Skydive Kansas City in a statement provided to ABC News and KMBC.
Dennis Jacobs, manager of Butler Memorial Airport and director of Bates County Emergency Management, told KMBC that the aircraft was carrying nine experienced skydivers, two tandem jumpers, and a pilot. Jacobs said the plane had just taken off when it began a turn and then nosedived into the ground about 300 yards from the runway.
Victims and Response
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that all 12 people aboard died. Skydive Kansas City expressed their devastation, saying, "This is a devastating loss for everyone connected to Skydive Kansas City and for the wider skydiving community. Our deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and loved ones of all who were lost." The company said the names of those killed will not be released until relatives have been notified.
Sheriff Anderson offered his condolences: "Our hearts go out to them. There's nothing you can say to make it better. We just pray for their loved ones, their families and they can recover some sense of normalcy. Same thing with the first responders."
Investigation Underway
Skydive Kansas City stated it is cooperating with local authorities, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board as investigators work to determine the cause of the crash. Federal investigators are expected to remain in Butler for several days to document the scene and begin examining what led to the accident.
