Twelve people, including 11 skydivers and a pilot, were killed after a plane crashed shortly after take-off in the US state of Missouri, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, which had been leased by a skydiving company, departed from Butler Memorial Airport at approximately 11.20am local time on Sunday before encountering difficulties moments later.
According to Bates County Emergency Management officials, the plane failed to gain sufficient altitude after take-off. It then made a sharp left turn before crashing around 200 yards from the airport.
All 12 individuals on board were killed in the crash.
Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the incident as a “mass casualty” event during a press conference held later that day.
He clarified that the aircraft was not a commercial airliner but a locally operated plane that had taken off from the regional airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace P750 and confirmed it crashed while departing Butler Memorial Airport.
Authorities said air traffic control services were not being provided at the time of the flight, noting that the aircraft was operating in airspace where radio communication with controllers was not mandatory.
Following the crash, emergency responders searched the surrounding area to determine whether any of the skydivers had managed to exit the aircraft before impact. However, no survivors were found.
In a heartbreaking development, some family members of those on board reportedly witnessed the crash unfold.
Officials have yet to release the identities of the victims as authorities work to notify next of kin.
The city of Butler is located approximately 50 miles south of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and is leading efforts to determine what went wrong during the flight.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local skydiving community as investigators begin examining the aircraft’s condition, flight history and other factors that may have contributed to the deadly accident.
