A devastating aviation tragedy unfolded near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Sunday when a plane carrying skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 12 people on board. Authorities confirmed that the victims included 11 skydivers and the pilot.

According to officials, the aircraft—a Pacific Aerospace 750XL turboprop operated by Skydive Kansas City—departed around 11:20 a.m. local time but failed to gain sufficient alтιтude. Witnesses and emergency officials reported that the plane made a sharp turn in an apparent attempt to return before crashing in a field a short distance from the runway and erupting in flames.

Heartbreakingly, some family members and loved ones were reportedly on the ground and witnessed the crash unfold. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, but there were no survivors. Grief counselors have since been made available to affected families and members of the local skydiving community.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are examining the wreckage, aircraft records, and other factors to determine what went wrong. Early reports suggest the aircraft may have experienced a loss of power shortly after takeoff, though officials have not reached any conclusions.

The idenтιтies of those who died have not yet been publicly released as authorities continue notifying next of kin.