12 Killed in Missouri Plane Crash Near Butler Airport

Twelve people were killed on Sunday when a plane crashed near Butler in Missouri, about 300 meters from the runway at Butler Memorial Airport. Local police said the reports at this stage indicate that all passengers died, and authorities believe there were no survivors.

The victims included 11 skydivers who were on their way to make a jump, along with the pilot. Missouri State Highway Patrol said the aircraft went down close to the municipal airport, and police, fire and rescue crews were dispatched to the scene as investigators began examining what caused the crash.

According to reports, the plane took off at about 11:20 a.m. local time, struggled to gain altitude shortly afterward, made a sharp left turn, and then crashed. Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and emergency director for Bates County, told CNN that it was a single-engine turboprop operated by Skydive Kansas City and was carrying skydivers when a report came in that the aircraft had crashed and caught fire.

Officials have not released the names of the dead because their families have not yet been notified. Crews from police, fire and rescue, along with Bates County sheriff's personnel, remained at the site. Jacobs called the incident "simply terrible."