• Twelve people died when a skydiving plane crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri.
• The aircraft was reportedly a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, known for skydiving operations.
• Emergency responders managed to extinguish the fire from the wreckage at the crash site.
• The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
• Authorities described the scene as "brutal," with operations halted in the area.

A tragic plane crash occurred near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of all twelve individuals on board, including eleven skydivers and one pilot. According to reports, the incident happened around 11:30 a.m., with authorities stating that the aircraft was on a skydiving expedition when it went down. The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed, "At this time reports indicate all occupants (12 total) have perished," echoing sentiments from multiple local news sources regarding the scale of this incident, including Reuters, CBS News, and Al Jazeera.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that first responders found the wreckage engulfed in flames upon arrival, necessitating the closure of nearby roads for safety. Emergency services were quick to control the fire, which left a scene described as "brutal" by local officials, including Bates County Emergency Management's director. The aircraft involved was identified as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, commonly utilized for skydiving, as discussed by sources like India Times and South China Morning Post.

Witnesses and officials report that the plane made a sharp left turn shortly after takeoff, which resulted in the crash occurring just 200 yards from the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) teams are currently investigating factors that may have contributed to the crash, as highlighted by multiple outlets including BBC and NPR.

While the identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed, authorities have stated that the aircraft was in service with Skydive Kansas City. The crash drew considerable attention due to the high number of fatalities in a single event, further underlined by statements from aviation safety experts suggesting that poor maintenance is a recurring issue in the history of skydiving accidents, as noted by NPR and India Times.