Nicolai Haugsted
Eleven skydivers and a pilot have lost their lives in plain crash.
A routine Sunday outing ended in catastrophe near a small Missouri airport after a plane carrying a group of skydivers failed to climb properly after takeoff and crashed just moments later.
Authorities and aviation investigators are now working to determine what caused the accident that claimed the lives of everyone on board.
All 12 People Aboard Killed
Skydive Kansas City confirmed that 11 skydivers and the aircraft’s pilot died in the crash.
The accident occurred near Butler Memorial Airport, roughly 60 miles south of Kansas City.
According to the company, no one survived.
“Tragically, all 12 individuals aboard lost their lives in the accident,” Skydive Kansas City said in a statement according to Reuters.
Officials have not yet released the names of the victims, citing the need to notify family members first.
Aircraft Went Down Shortly After Takeoff
Early information suggests the aircraft encountered difficulties almost immediately after leaving the runway.
Dennis Jacobs, who serves as both acting airport manager and Bates County emergency management director, said the single-engine turboprop departed around 11:20 a.m. local time.
According to Jacobs, the plane struggled to gain altitude before making a sharp left turn and crashing approximately 300 yards from the runway.
Investigators identified the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL.
Family Members Witnessed the Crash
Local authorities described the incident as an apparent accident, though investigators have not yet determined a cause.
Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson emphasized that the aircraft was not a commercial passenger jet.
“This is not a commercial airliner that has crashed; it’s a local airplane that took off from our local airport. This appears to be an accident”
Anderson also revealed that relatives of some of the victims were present and witnessed the crash unfold.
Federal Aviation Administration personnel arrived at the scene shortly afterward.
Investigation Could Take Years
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation and plans to send specialists to Missouri to examine the wreckage.
Officials cautioned that a final determination may take considerable time.
According to the NTSB, a final report identifying the probable cause of the crash could take anywhere from 12 to 24 months.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said multiple state agencies had been mobilized following the tragedy.
“Our prayers are with the community and all those working to help,” Kehoe said.
Grief counselors have also been deployed to assist relatives and others affected by the accident.
Rare but Devastating Incidents
Skydiving remains statistically safe for the vast majority of participants.
The U.S. Parachute Association estimates there were approximately 3.5 million skydives across the country last year, resulting in 16 fatalities.
Aircraft accidents involving skydiving operations are relatively uncommon as well. According to the organization, eight fatal skydiving-related aircraft crashes occurred nationwide during the past decade before Sunday’s accident, leading to 25 deaths.
Sunday’s tragedy now stands among the deadliest incidents involving a U.S. skydiving operation in recent years.
