A plane carrying skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff on Sunday morning near Butler Memorial Airport, k!lling all 12 people on board.
The aircraft went down around 11:30 a.m. on airport property after departing from the Butler airport, Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said during a Sunday afternoon news conference.
In a statement provided to ABC News and KMBC, Skydive Kansas City confirmed the flight was operating in support of their skydiving business.
The company said the aircraft was carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot.
“This is a devastating loss for everyone connected to Skydive Kansas City and for the wider skydiving community,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and loved ones of all who were lost.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed all 12 people aboard d!ed.
Skydive Kansas City said it is cooperating with local authorities, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board as investigators work to determine what caused the crash.
The company said the names of those k!lled will not be released until relatives have been notified.
Dennis Jacobs, manager of Butler Memorial Airport and director of Bates County Emergency Management, told KMBC the aircraft was carrying nine experienced skydivers, two tandem jumpers and a pilot.
Jacobs said the plane had just taken off when it began a turn and then nosedived into the ground about 300 yards from the runway.
“Our hearts go out to them,” Anderson said. “There’s nothing you can say to make it better. We just pray for their loved ones, their families and they can recover some sense of normalcy. Same thing with the first responders.”
Federal investigators are expected to remain in Butler for several days as they document the scene and begin examining what led to the crash.
