Pilot among 12 dead after plane on a skydiving outing crashes in Missouri

15 Jun 2026, 05:58 by Abhilasha · KalingaTV

New-Delhi: In a tragic incident, a plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers on a skydiving outing in Missouri crashed in a field and was engulfed in flames, killing all aboard.

The crash occurred near Butler Memorial Airport, a town of around 4,300 residents located about 65 miles (105 km) south of Kansas City.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing said the aircraft had been taking people up for a skydiving trip when emergency responders received reports at around 11:30 a.m. that a plane had gone down and caught fire, according to a report by The Associated Press.

Butler County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the crash of the non-commercial plane as a “mass casualty” event during a Sunday afternoon news briefing, though he did not officially confirm the number of fatalities, as reported by NBC news.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

On being informed about the crash, highway patrol officers along with the Butler Police Department and Bates County Sheriff’s Office reached the spot. Both Business Interstate 49 and the airport will be closed for an undisclosed period of time.