Twelve Dead in Missouri Skydiving Plane Crash
SUNDOWN, Mo. — Twelve people died Sunday after a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Sundown.
The incident occurred around 2:41 p.m. when the aircraft, identified as a DHC-6 Twin Otter, took off from a local airstrip. Witnesses reported seeing the plane ascend before engine failure caused it to descend rapidly, impacting terrain south of the airstrip.
Emergency responders from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local fire departments arrived on the scene shortly after the crash. Medical personnel confirmed that all twelve individuals onboard, including ten skydivers and two crew members, sustained fatal injuries.
Authorities have closed off the surrounding area for investigation purposes. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are leading the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
No additional details about the victims or their affiliations with the skydiving operation have been released. Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.