A plane carrying skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday near Butler Memorial Airport in western Missouri, killing all 12 people aboard in one of the deadliest U.S. aviation accidents of the year.
Authorities said that the aircraft involved was a single-engine Pacific Aerospace P750 aircraft manufactured in 2010 and operated by Skydive Kansas City, a regional company serving several locations across the Midwest. According to acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency Director Dennis Jacobs, the aircraft departed around 11:20 a.m. for a local skydiving flight carrying seven single jumpers and two tandem pairs. According to officials, the plane made a sharp turn and went down in a field roughly 300 yards from the runway before catching fire.
Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded after receiving reports of a downed aircraft near Business 49 Highway, which was temporarily closed. Officials searched the scene by foot and drone, but no survivors were found. Authorities withheld the names of the victims pending notification of family members. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, with NTSB personnel expected to examine the wreckage, maintenance records and other factors. A final report could take up to two years.
In a public statement released Sunday afternoon, the operating company Skydive Kansas City expressed profound grief over the incident, stating, “This is a devastating loss for everyone connected to Skydive Kansas City and for the wider skydiving community,” and extended their deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the victims. The business confirmed it is working directly with federal and local regulators as they examine the wreckage. While specific factors contributing to the failure remain under investigation, federal records indicate the model is highly utilized across the country for aerial operations and cargo transport due to its ability to manage short runways.
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