MISSOURI: A private aircraft carrying skydivers crashed near Butler Memorial Airport on Sunday, killing all 12 people on board, US law enforcement officials confirmed.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash occurred near Butler, about 60 miles south of Kansas City. Authorities reported that 11 skydivers and one pilot were among the victims.
Officials said the aircraft had taken off from Butler Memorial Airport and went down shortly afterward in a nearby field. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the incident as an apparent accident and clarified that the aircraft was not a commercial passenger flight.
Emergency services, including multiple fire departments and coroners’ offices, responded to the scene following an emergency call received shortly before 11:30 a.m. local time.
Authorities said family members of some victims witnessed the crash. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been deployed to the site, while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is preparing to lead a formal investigation.
Officials said efforts were underway to identify the victims and notify their families as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.