UMVA has learned that a devastating plane crash near a rural airport in Missouri has claimed the lives of 12 people, including 11 skydivers and their pilot.
Witnesses described the harrowing scene, saying the plane was flying low before suddenly plunging into the ground near the Butler Memorial Airport on Sunday. The crash occurred around 11:30 am, with the plane turning around for an unknown reason just after taking off.
The flaming wreckage of the plane lies in a field next to the Business 49 Highway, which has been closed by police. Emergency responders quickly put out the fire, but unfortunately, it was too late for those on board.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that all occupants of the plane had perished in the crash. The private plane, operated by Skydive Kansas City, was identified as a single-engine turboprop aircraft.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the pilot had just taken off and made a left turn before the crash. The acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director speculated that the plane may have been losing power, and the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing.
The scene was described as brutal, with the plane crashing nose-first and catching fire. Emergency responders worked quickly to put out the flames, but the impact was fatal.
The skydiving community is in shock, with Skydive Kansas City expressing their deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and loved ones of those lost. The names of those involved will not be released until all next of kin have been notified.
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL plane that crashed is a popular model for skydiving and has been used for various purposes, including cargo transport, aerial surveying, and medical evacuation flights.
First responders also searched the area under the flight path but did not find anyone who might have attempted to jump out before the plane crashed.
