12 killed in skydiving plane crash near Butler, Missouri
newsJun 14, 202657183
A chartered skydiving plane carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport near Butler, Missouri, Sunday morning, killing all 12 people on board, Missouri State Highway Patrol said. Authorities said the aircraft failed to gain altitude, made a sharp left turn and crashed about 300 yards from the runway, and the FAA and NTSB have opened investigations. Preliminary tracking and aviation data identify the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace P-750 XSTOL and show a steep descent before radar contact ended. The deaths highlight the risks of skydiving flights and will prompt federal scrutiny of operational safety, aircraft loading and maintenance practices.
