12 people presumed dead in Missouri plane crash carrying skydivers
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- All 12 people on board a plane carrying skydivers with Skydive Kansas City are presumed dead after the aircraft crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri.
- The plane reportedly failed to gain altitude after takeoff, made a sharp left turn, and may have attempted to land on a nearby highway before crashing.
- Authorities, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Butler Police Department, and Bates County Sheriff’s Office, are responding to the scene, with Business Interstate 49 closed in both directions for at least two days.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is gathering information and is expected to launch an investigation into the crash.
- The airport will remain closed for an unspecified period, and neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor Skydive Kansas City has provided comments yet.