US plane crash: 12 killed as skydiving plane crashes shortly after takeoff in Missouri, rescue operation underway
PTC News Desk: Twelve people lost their lives on Sunday when a small aircraft carrying skydivers crashed shortly after taking off from Butler Memorial Airport in the US state of Missouri, authorities said.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred near the airport in Butler, located about 60 miles south of Kansas City. In a statement posted on X, the agency said preliminary reports indicated that all 12 people on board had died.
Officials identified the victims as 11 skydivers and the pilot, according to a spokesperson for Bates County Emergency Management.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said initial information showed that a Pacific Aerospace P750 aircraft crashed while departing Butler Memorial Airport at approximately 11:35 a.m. local time with 12 occupants on board.
The FAA noted that it was not providing air traffic control services at the time of the accident. The agency also confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash and release further updates as authorities work to determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
- With inputs from agencies
