Latest updates
The most recent verified information is listed first.
Sun, June 14 · ~6:30 p.m. CT — NTSB to lead; investigators expected Monday
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is taking the lead role in the investigation, working with the Federal Aviation Administration, with investigators expected on scene Monday, June 15. NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris said, "Part of the investigation will be to request radar data, weather information, maintenance records and the pilot’s medical records." A preliminary report typically takes about 30 days; a full report can take one to two years. (Source: AP via NPR; CNN)
Sun, June 14 · afternoon CT — Operator identified; all aboard confirmed dead
Authorities said all 12 people aboard were killed — 11 skydivers and the pilot — with no survivors; the Missouri State Highway Patrol had initially said the occupants were presumed dead. The flight was operated by Skydive Kansas City, which has flown out of Butler for years. Officials said the skydivers had not yet jumped when the plane went down. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said, "Our hearts go out to them… We just pray for them and their loved ones and their friends and their family." (Source: KCUR; KCTV5; ABC News)
Sun, June 14 · late morning CT — Plane crashes and burns just after takeoff
A skydiving jump aircraft — a Pacific Aerospace 750XL turboprop (tail number N221BN, per FAA records cited by The Associated Press) — crashed shortly after taking off from Butler Memorial Airport (KBUM) in Butler, Missouri, late Sunday morning and then caught fire on airport property. Butler is in Bates County, about 60 miles south of Kansas City. Airport manager Dennis Jacobs offered a preliminary, personal impression, saying the plane "had just taken off and made a left turn" and that "I think it was losing power, and he was trying to land." That account has not been confirmed by investigators and is not an official finding of cause. (Source: AP via NPR; CNN; ABC News)
What we know
- A skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, late Sunday morning, June 14, 2026, then caught fire. - All 12 people aboard — 11 skydivers and the pilot — were killed, authorities said. There were no survivors. - The skydivers had not yet jumped at the time of the crash. - The aircraft was a Pacific Aerospace 750XL turboprop, operated by Skydive Kansas City, a long-time operator at the airport. - Butler is in Bates County, roughly 60 miles south of Kansas City. - The NTSB is leading the investigation with the FAA; the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the scene.
What we don't know yet
- The cause of the crash. The NTSB has not determined what happened, and that work will take time. - The identities of those aboard. Authorities have not released names while families are being notified, and we are not publishing them. - The full sequence of the flight, including any mechanical, maintenance, or other factors — the NTSB said it will review radar data, weather information, maintenance records and the pilot’s medical records. - Whether weather was a factor; conditions were reported as clear, but officials have not cited a cause.
Why it matters in Kansas City
Butler sits about an hour south of Kansas City, and the operator carried the Kansas City name — a reminder of how close this loss is to home. A loss of this magnitude is rare for the region. For now, the focus is on the 12 lives lost and the families and first responders left behind. We will keep this page updated as officials confirm more.