Missouri [US], June 15 (HBTV): Twelve people were killed after a skydiving aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in the US state of Missouri, authorities said.
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), preliminary information indicated that the aircraft involved was a Pacific Aerospace P750, which crashed while departing Butler Memorial Airport at approximately 11:35 a.m. local time on June 14.
The FAA stated that all 12 people on board the aircraft died in the crash.
'At the time of the crash, the FAA was not providing air traffic control services,' the agency said.
The aviation regulator further stated that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation and provide updates on the incident.
According to Al Jazeera, citing Missouri Highway Patrol Sergeant Justin Ewing, the aircraft was carrying people for a skydiving operation at the time of the crash.
Authorities were able to extinguish the fire shortly after the crash, Ewing said, describing the scene as 'brutal'.
'It landed in a field adjacent to the airport, but I think they're shutting down the roadway just as a precaution,' Ewing said.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released by authorities.
(ANI)