OAN Staff Lillian Mann
2:35 PM – Sunday, June 14, 2026
A pilot and 11 skydivers are presumed dead after a plane crashed in Butler, Missouri, local authorities reported.
A Pacific Aerospace 750XL carrying skydivers for Skydive Kansas City crashed Sunday morning near Butler Memorial Airport. Officials said the aircraft took off around 11:30 a.m. local time, turned back shortly after departure and crashed about 300 yards from the runway.
The plane had just taken off but was unable to gain altitude, before making a sharp turn left turn, according to Butler Memorial Airport Acting Manager Dennis Jacobs.
Jacobs also speculated the plane may have been experiencing power issues before the crash.
“It had just taken off and made a left turn,” Jacobs said. “In my opinion, I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire.”
The plane was engulfed in flames after the crash, with emergency responders able to quickly extinguish the fire. First responders referred to the scene as “brutal,” according to the Associated Press.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will reportedly take over the investigation.
Authorities have not released the identifies of the victims aboard the aircraft.
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