- A parachute plane crashed in the state of Missouri.
- The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport.
- The plane turned, failed to gain altitude and crashed near the highway.
At least 12 people died on Sunday in the American state of Missouri when a plane intended for parachute jumps crashed. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport, located about 96 kilometers south of Kansas City, local authorities said. It was reported by AFP and NBC News.
According to the Bates County Emergency Management Agency, the plane with 11 paratroopers and a pilot took off around 11:30 a.m. local time (6:30 p.m. CEST), but for an as yet unknown reason, it turned and subsequently crashed near the highway. It was closed after the accident.
Acting airport director Dennis Jacobs said the plane failed to gain altitude after takeoff and turned sharply to the left before crashing. It is believed that the pilot was attempting an emergency landing on the highway.
Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said during a briefing Sunday afternoon that the incident is being treated as an accident, but did not officially confirm the death toll. In light of the fact that several matches of the ongoing World Cup will be played in Kansas City, he noted that the authorities have not registered any signs of terrorism or criminal activity. He added that the accident was witnessed by some relatives of the victims.
Skydive Kansas City, which operated the plane, called the incident “devastating for the entire skydiving community” and offered condolences to the families of the victims. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began investigating the cause of the crash.
