BUTLER, Missouri — A skydiving plane carrying 12 people crashed in a ball of flames Sunday morning near Butler Memorial Airport, and authorities say no one on board survived.
The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, went down at around 11:30 a.m. near Business Interstate 49 — just moments after takeoff.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has confirmed all 12 people on board are presumed dead.
What Happened in the Final Moments
According to acting airport manager Dennis Jacobs, the plane failed to gain altitude shortly after leaving the runway.
It then made a sharp left turn before crashing.
Jacobs believes the pilot may have been attempting an emergency landing on the highway when the aircraft went down.
A 911 call came in moments before impact. When local law enforcement arrived, the scene was already engulfed in flames.
Families Watched From the Ground
Butler County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the crash as a “mass casualty” event during a Sunday afternoon briefing.
He confirmed that some family members of those on board witnessed the crash firsthand.
“There’s nothing we really can say to make it better,” Anderson said. “We just pray for them and their loved ones and hope that they can recover to some sense of normalcy.”
Investigation Now Underway
Authorities believe the crash was an accident, though the cause remains under investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is collecting information and will likely deploy a team to the site. The Federal Aviation Administration is also expected to take part.
Local law enforcement will begin recovering and identifying victims once federal investigators complete their initial review of the scene.
Business Interstate 49 and Butler Memorial Airport remain closed for an undisclosed period of time.
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