A small plane crashed in Missouri, U.S., while attempting to take off, resulting in the deaths of 11 skydivers and one pilot.
International news agencies reported on 14 Jun 2026 that a small Pacific Aerospace P750 aircraft crashed while taking off around 11:20 a.m. local time on Sunday in Missouri, United States, killing 11 skydivers and one pilot.
A spokesperson for the Bates County Emergency Management Office said the aircraft was a chartered plane rented by a skydiving company. The pilot was unable to gain altitude before the plane suddenly made a sharp left turn and crashed to the ground.
The crash site was about 200 yards from Butler Memorial Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 12 people on board.
“We are managing this incident as a mass casualty event,” Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said at a press conference, emphasizing that the plane was not a commercial passenger aircraft but a local flight that took off from their regional airport.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at the time of the crash, there was no air traffic control service provided. The aircraft was not required to communicate with the control tower due to the type of airspace it was operating in.
Local media reported that first responders inspected the surrounding area to determine if any skydivers had jumped from the plane before it crashed.
The sheriff said some family members of the deceased were present and witnessed the tragic moments, but authorities have not yet released any identities of the victims.
. bbc