Skydivers, One Pilot Dead After Missouri Plane Crashes on Takeoff

A Missouri plane crash shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport left 12 people dead, including 11 skydivers and one pilot, in a mass-casualty event. The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. as witnesses saw the turboprop aircraft tumble and crash into a grass area near the airport, with emergency responders converging on the scene. The private flight operated by Skydive Kansas City involved a Pacific Aerospace 750XL that is commonly used for skydiving missions. FAA and NTSB investigators are on site, with family notifications and victim identification ongoing as authorities review possible causes like loss of power and a stall shortly after liftoff.