BUTLER, MO – Twelve people, including the pilot, lost their lives Sunday morning after a skydiving aircraft crashed and caught fire near the Butler Memorial Airport, approximately 60 miles south of Kansas City.
Fatal Crash and Emergency Response
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, emergency responders received a call around 11:30 a.m. Sunday reporting that a plane was down and fully engulfed in flames.
The aircraft came down in a field adjacent to the airport. State troopers, alongside the Butler Police Department and the Bates County Sheriff’s Office, quickly secured the scene and temporarily closed a nearby roadway as a safety precaution.
Aircraft Det Mourning
The flight was operating in support of Skydive Kansas City. The organization released a statement expressing profound grief over the incident:
“This is a devastating loss for everyone connected to Skydive Kansas City and for the wider skydiving community. Our deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and loved ones of all who were lost.”
Federal Investigation Launched
The cause of the catastrophic crash remains unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead on the investigation, with officials currently on-site gathering evidence to determine what led to the tragedy. Skydive Kansas City management confirmed they are cooperating fully with both the FAA and the NTSB.
