12 Killed As Skydiving Plane Crashes, Bursts Into Flames During Take-Off In Missouri

At least 12 people have been confirmed dead after a skydiving aircraft crashed and burst into flames shortly after take-off in Missouri, United States.

The tragic incident occurred around 11:20 a.m. on Sunday near Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, when the private aircraft carrying skydivers reportedly failed to gain sufficient altitude moments after leaving the runway.

According to reports by the BBC, the pilot attempted to make a left turn and land on a nearby highway after experiencing difficulties. However, the aircraft crashed into a field about 200 yards from the airport and was immediately engulfed in flames.

Authorities said the victims included the pilot and 11 skydivers onboard the aircraft.

Emergency responders were also investigating whether any passengers managed to jump from the plane before it crashed.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said troopers were deployed to the scene to assist the Butler Police Department and the Bates County Sheriff’s Office with rescue and recovery operations.

Confirming the incident, Missouri Highway Patrol Sergeant Justin Ewing said the aircraft was transporting people for a skydiving exercise.

“Emergency responders got a call that a plane was down and engulfed in fire around 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning,” Ewing said.

He added that firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze shortly after the crash, describing the scene as “brutal.”

According to Ewing, the aircraft came down in a field adjacent to the airport, while nearby roads were expected to remain closed as a safety precaution.

He further disclosed that the crash would be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The aircraft involved in the accident was identified as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a single-engine turboprop aircraft widely used for skydiving operations. The model is also commonly deployed for cargo transportation, aerial surveys and medical evacuation missions.

The aircraft can accommodate up to 17 skydivers and is designed to operate from short runways.