BATES COUNTY, Mo. — Twelve people died in a plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport on Sunday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. as the aircraft was reportedly taking passengers for a skydive, authorities said. Emergency responders arrived to find the plane engulfed in flames.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the downed aircraft was a Pacific Aerospace P750, a single-engine turboprop that can carry up to 17 skydivers. The plane was manufactured in 2010.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is working alongside the Butler Police Department and the Bates County Sheriff’s Office on the scene. Business 49 near the airport will remain closed in both directions for at least two days, authorities said. The airport is also closed to air traffic.
Sheriff Chad Anderson confirmed that there were witnesses to the crash. An investigation is currently underway by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The crash site is located approximately 29 minutes north of Nevada, Missouri.