Twelve Killed After Skydiving Plane Crashes in Missouri, US

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Butler, Missouri: Twelve people, including 11 skydivers and a pilot, were killed when a private aircraft crashed shortly after take-off near Butler Memorial Airport in the U.S. state of Missouri on Sunday, authorities said.

The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, went down near the airport, located about 100 kilometres south of Kansas City. The company confirmed that everyone on board had died and said the victims' identities would not be released until their families had been notified.

According to local officials, the single-engine turboprop aircraft took off at around 11:20 a.m. local time but failed to gain sufficient altitude. It then made a sharp left turn before crashing about 300 yards from the runway.

Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the incident as an apparent accident and said some family members of those on board witnessed the crash. Multiple emergency crews responded to the scene following reports of the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Skydive Kansas City said it was cooperating fully with authorities as the investigation continues.

Pic Credit: AFP