A private plane carrying 11 skydivers and a pilot crashed Sunday near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, killing everyone on board after the aircraft suddenly changed course in midair.
According to FOX4, the plane took off at about 11:30 a.m. local time before turning back for reasons that remain unknown. It went down shortly afterward near Business 49 Highway, not far from the airport.
Authorities have not said whether any of the skydivers were able to jump before the crash, leaving that question unresolved as investigators piece together the final moments of the flight.
Federal investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene and have begun examining what led to the deadly crash.
In the aftermath, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office said all lanes of Business 49 Highway near the airport were shut down as emergency crews cleared the wreckage and worked to determine the cause.
All lanes on Business 49 Highway were closed close to the airport while crews worked to clear the wreckage and determine its cause, Bates County Sheriff’s Office said.
