Twelve die in US plane crash

Twelve people have died after a plane crashed near an airport in Missouri, United States, authorities have confirmed.

The fatal crash occurred on Sunday near Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, located south of Kansas City, the largest city in the state.

“Troopers are on scene assisting the Butler Police Department & Bates County Sheriff’s Office of a Fatal Plane Crash near the Butler Memorial Airport,” the Missouri State Highway Patrol posted on X.

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“At this time reports indicate all occupants (12 total) have perished,” it said.

Missouri Highway Patrol Sergeant Justin Ewing said the aircraft was being used to take people on skydiving trips.

According to him, emergency crews were alerted at about 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday after reports that the plane had crashed and caught fire.

He said firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control, describing the crash site 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.

Authorities had not released the identities of the victims as of the time of reporting.

Ewing said investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were at the scene to determine what led to the crash.

Officials have yet to announce the cause of the accident.

(AlJazeera)