12 killed after skydiving plane crashes shortly after takeoff in Missouri

A tragic plane crash in the US state of Missouri claimed the lives of 12 people on Sunday when a private aircraft carrying skydivers went down moments after takeoff.

A tragic plane crash in the US state of Missouri claimed the lives of 12 people on Sunday when a private aircraft carrying skydivers went down moments after takeoff. The accident occurred near Butler Memorial Airport, a small regional airport located about 100 kilometers south of Kansas City, leaving no survivors and prompting a federal investigation into the cause of the disaster.

According to Skydive Kansas City, the aircraft was carrying 11 skydivers along with the pilot when it crashed shortly after departing from the airport. The company confirmed that everyone on board was killed. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims as officials continue the process of notifying family members. The company said it is fully cooperating with local law enforcement agencies as well as federal aviation investigators.

Emergency officials reported that the aircraft took off at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time. Witness accounts and preliminary information suggest the plane struggled to gain sufficient altitude after leaving the runway. Dennis Jacobs, who serves as acting airport manager and emergency management director for Bates County, said the aircraft made a sudden sharp turn before crashing roughly 300 yards from the runway. The impact destroyed the aircraft and left no chance of survival for those on board.

Investigators identified the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a single-engine turboprop plane commonly used for skydiving operations. While the exact cause of the crash remains unknown, local authorities stressed that there is currently no indication of foul play. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the incident as what appears to be a tragic accident and noted that family members of several victims witnessed the crash from the ground, adding to the emotional impact of the tragedy.

Federal agencies have launched a full investigation into the accident. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, while the National Transportation Safety Board announced that investigators would begin their examination of the wreckage on Monday. The agency stated that determining the probable cause of the crash could take anywhere from one to two years, as investigators analyze flight data, maintenance records, weather conditions, and other relevant factors.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said multiple state agencies had been mobilized to assist local authorities. He noted that grief counselors and support services were being made available to help relatives and community members affected by the tragedy. The governor said the state would continue providing resources as the investigation moves forward.

The accident has once again drawn attention to aviation safety within the skydiving industry. According to the United States Parachute Association, skydiving remains a relatively safe activity overall, with an estimated 3.5 million jumps taking place across the country last year. The organization recorded 16 fatalities related to skydiving activities during that period. However, aircraft accidents involving skydiving operations, while rare, can be particularly devastating because they often involve multiple passengers.

Industry data shows that before the Missouri crash, eight fatal skydiving aircraft accidents had occurred in the United States over the previous decade, resulting in 25 deaths. The latest tragedy significantly increases that figure and marks one of the deadliest skydiving-related aviation accidents in recent years.

Skydive Kansas City, which has operated since 1998, is one of the region’s established skydiving businesses. The company was acquired in 2024 by Indiana-based investment firm Little Engine Ventures, which also owns other skydiving operations in the United States. As investigators work to determine what caused the aircraft to crash, the focus remains on supporting grieving families and uncovering answers behind a tragedy that has shocked the local community.