11 skydivers, one pilot killed in Missouri plane crash near airport

Authorities announced Sunday that at least 12 people were killed in a plane crash in Missouri.

Sources told Fox 4 Kansas City that 11 of the victims were skydivers and the 12th was the pilot.

The crash happened near Butler Memorial Airport, about 65 miles south of Kansas City, according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol on X. 

The plane was engulfed in flames after the crash, but emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire shortly after impact, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

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The incident occurred just before 11:30 a.m. when a private plane departing the airport turned around for an unknown reason and crashed near Business 49 Highway, a spokesperson for Bates County Emergency Management told Fox 4.

Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director, told The AP that he suspects the plane experienced power issues before the crash.

"It had just taken off and made a left turn," Jacobs said. "In my opinion, I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire."

The aircraft was carrying passengers preparing to skydive, Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing said, according to The AP.

"It landed in a field adjacent to the airport, but I think they’re shutting down the roadway just as a precaution," Ewing said.

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The Bates County Sheriff's Office addressed the highway closure in a Facebook post, saying: "Business 49 near the airport in Butler is shut down in both directions for an undetermined amount of time. You will need to find an alternate route for some time."

Troopers, along with officers from the Butler Police Department and deputies from the Bates County Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene and are assisting with the crash investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are also on the scene, Fox 4 said. Authorities are reportedly working to determine whether any skydivers exited the aircraft before it went down.

Butler, a small city in western Missouri, has a population of roughly 4,300 residents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.