A transport plane carrying skydivers crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Saturday, killing all 12 people aboard, the state highway patrol said.
Witnesses reported the aircraft losing altitude shortly after takeoff amid overcast conditions investigators will examine for mechanical or weather factors.
Emergency crews reached a wooded impact site where debris scattered across several acres, complicating recovery operations.
The victims included instructors and jumpers who had booked weekend formation dives at the regional drop zone.
Federal aviation investigators dispatched teams to retrieve flight recorders if equipped and to interview maintenance personnel.
Local officials planned counseling resources for the tight-knit skydiving community mourning multiple losses in a single afternoon.
The Federal Aviation Administration restricted temporary flight restrictions over the crash site so investigators could map debris without drone interference.
Aviation safety groups noted that jump planes undergo rigorous maintenance cycles, making Saturday’s crash unusual enough to trigger nationwide operator briefings.
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Sources:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/united-states-missouri-plane-crash/article71103279.ece