Twelve Killed in Skydiving Plane Crash in Western Missouri
BUTLER, Mo. — A plane crash shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport has resulted in the deaths of 12 people, including 11 skydivers and the pilot, on Sunday afternoon.
The Bates County Coroner's Office identified the victims, five of whom were from Missouri and others from various states, including Pennsylvania and Colorado. The deceased are:
- Kurt John Roy, 69, Windber, PA
- Michael R. Shanahan, 54, Kansas City, MO
- David Hershberger, 54, Liberty, MO
- Sai Karthik Varma Datla, 24, India
- Matthew Swope, 39, Independence, MO
- Dustin McKinney, 44, Stilwell, KS
- Jennifer L. Sharp, 55, Grand Junction, CO
- Blake Thacker, 25, Olathe, KS
- Marcus Miller, 30, Lawrence, KS
- Nicholas Nash, 40, Harrisonville, MO
- William Fischer, 23, De Soto, KS
- Dane Cordes, 26, Richmond, MO
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are on-site interviewing witnesses and assessing the wreckage. Items that can be salvaged will be sent to Washington, D.C., for further investigation.
Authorities are examining reports of an engine problem shortly after takeoff. Witnesses indicated the plane may not have had sufficient altitude for a safe turn back to the airport, according to NBC News Aviation Analyst Jezz Guzzetti.
“This is an accident that occurred right after takeoff with witnesses reporting some sort of engine problem,” Guzzetti said.
This incident has raised concerns about the FAA's oversight of skydiving operations, which currently face fewer regulations than commercial airliners. U.S. Representative Mark Alford, whose district includes Butler, emphasized the need for accountability regarding safety measures for skydivers.
The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report on the crash within 30 days.
For further updates, visit local news sources.