Pilot and 11 skydiving passengers killed in Missouri plane crash

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Missouri state highway patrol, pictured in Kansas City on 10 June. Photograph: Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Missouri state highway patrol, pictured in Kansas City on 10 June. Photograph: Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images Pilot and 11 skydiving passengers killed in Missouri plane crash Crash reportedly occurred shortly after departure from Butler Memorial airport at 11.30am on Sunday Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Twelve people were killed in a plane crash near Butler, Missouri , on Sunday. According to Bates county emergency management, a private plane that had departed Butler Memorial airport shortly before 11.30am turned back before crashing near Business 49 Highway, Fox 4 reported. Sources told the outlet that 11 of the victims were skydivers, while the 12th was the pilot. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Missouri state highway patrol, the Butler police department, the Bates county sheriff’s office, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, KMBC reported . Videos posted online appeared to show a heavily damaged aircraft in a grassy area, with plumes of white smoke rising from the wreckage. The Missouri state highway patrol confirmed the crash in a post on X, saying : “Troopers are on scene assisting the Butler Police Department & Bates County Sheriff’s Office of a Fatal Plane Crash near the Butler Memorial Airport. At this time reports indicate all occupants (12 total) have perished. Updates to follow.” The Guardian has reached out to the BPD, NTSB and FAA for additional comment. Explore more on these topics Missouri Plane crashes Air transport news Share Reuse this content