US: 12 people dead after skydiving plane crashes in Missouri

In USA, all 12 people on board a skydiving plane that crashed Sunday morning shortly after takeoff in Butler, Missouri, are presumed dead, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.The plane, operated by Skydive Kansas City, went down at around 11:30 a.m. near Butler Memorial Airport along Business Interstate 49, according to officials.  The aircraft was unable to gain altitude after taking off and made a sharp left turn before crashing, according to Butler Memorial Airport acting manager Dennis Jacobs. He said the pilot may have been attempting an emergency landing on the highway when the aircraft went down.

12 people including pilot killed in plane crash in Butler Missouri .. pic.twitter.com/V7sSyJ2njc

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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. The aircraft involved was a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a single-engine turboprop commonly used for skydiving operations but also employed for cargo transport, aerial surveys and medical evacuation flights. According to FAA records, the plane, manufactured in 2010, can carry up to 17 skydivers and is capable of operating from short runways.