A tragic skydiving plane crash occurred in Butler, Missouri, resulting in the loss of all 12 lives on board. The incident happened when the Pacific Aerospace P750 aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, crashed near Business 49 Highway shortly after taking off from Butler Memorial Airport.

Investigation Underway

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), with assistance from local authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson, there is no indication of criminal activity, and the crash is believed to be accidental.

Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and director of the Bates County Emergency Management Agency, suspects that the aircraft may have experienced power issues, leading to the crash. The plane was carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot, with many of the passengers being inexperienced first-time jumpers preparing for tandem skydives.

Travis Phippen, a friend of two of the skydivers killed in the crash, described the group as people who loved life and experiencing all it has to offer. The victims will be remembered for their passion for skydiving and the impact they had on their friends, family, and fellow jumpers.

Skydive Kansas City has extended its condolences to the victims’ families and is cooperating fully with the investigation. The company has asked for privacy as they focus on supporting those affected by the tragedy and assisting authorities in determining the cause of the crash.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.