BUTLER, Mo. (TNND) — A plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport on Sunday resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals, including a pilot and 11 skydivers.
Authorities confirmed the aircraft crashed into a field and ignited shortly after takeoff. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson reported that family members of the skydivers were present at the airport and witnessed the incident.
Skydive Kansas City, operators of the plane, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “This is a devastating loss for everyone connected to Skydive Kansas City and for the wider skydiving community,” the organization stated. They extended condolences to the victims’ families.
The United States Parachute Association stated the tragedy has impacted the entire skydiving community. “A loss of this magnitude is felt profoundly across the entire sport,” they said, emphasizing that Skydive Kansas City complies with safety standards and FAA regulations.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, with the National Transportation Safety Board expected to release a detailed report in up to a year. In 2022, nearly 3.5 million skydives were completed in the U.S., with 16 civilian fatalities, mostly due to human error.