Twelve people are believed dead after a plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The aircraft was carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot. The crash occurred south of the Kansas City metro area.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident. The plane went down near the airport, and emergency crews responded to the scene. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
According to multiple local reports, the crash involved a group of skydivers. FOX4KC.com reported that 11 skydivers and one pilot died. KCTV confirmed the death toll at 12, while KMBC also reported the pilot and 11 passengers were killed.
The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to lead the investigation into the accident. Fatalities in skydiving-related plane crashes, while rare, underscore the risks faced by such operations. The small community of Butler is grappling with the loss.
Officials have not provided further details on the flight's origin or the aircraft's model. The highway patrol has asked the public to avoid the area as the investigation continues.