A private plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers on a skydiving outing crashed in a field near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, killing all 12 people on board. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff around 11:30 a.m. Local authorities, including the Bates County Sheriff and the Federal Aviation Administration, responded to the incident. The plane, operated by Skydive Kansas City, was identified as a single-engine turboprop aircraft. According to an airport official, the pilot appeared to be experiencing engine trouble and attempted to land on a highway but stalled and crashed nosefirst
A skydiving instructor who had made over 6,800 jumps. A drummer who was meticulous about safety since falling in love with the sport that helped him sober up. A software engineer on the cusp of becoming a certified skydiving coach. A grandfather honoring his sister lost to cancer.
Family and friends of the 11 jumpers and pilot killed when their plane crashed shortly after taking off in Missouri said they loved their hobby - whether it was to find personal peace or to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with others. They remembered the experienced skydivers as people who may have had regular jobs to pay their bills but free falling brought both the thrill and the serenity they craved.
Blake Thacker , 25, jumped for seven years since first skydiving on his 18th birthday. He was set to get his skydiving coach certification over the weekend, his mother Sherry said.
âSkydiving had given him the confidence to do other things in his life, to be successful and reach for things maybe he thought he wasnât good enough to do,â she said.
Thacker was an aviation software engineer and his mother saw that same methodical safety-oriented focus in his hobby.
âHe said, âMom the danger in skydiving is really not the diving itâs the plane,ââ she recalled.
PHOTOS: Skydivers killed in Missouri plane crash found thrills and peace through jumping
Plane crashed shortly after takeoff
The plane was barely off the ground Sunday - only about 100 feet in the air - when it made an abrupt left turn before crashing on a sunny day. It appeared to be losing power, witnesses said.
Skydive Kansas City operated the single-engine turboprop Pacific Aerospace 750XL built in 2010 out of an airport in the small town of Butler, roughly 65 miles south of Kansas City.
The plane arrived in Butler for the first time on June 5, according to data from FlightRadar24.com. Pictures of the aircraft posted on social media showed it still had advertising from Chattanooga Skydiving Co. Its flight history showed it had previously been flying for weeks at a time in Tennessee and Wisconsin.
A woman who answered the phone at the Chattanooga Skydiving Co. hung up Tuesday when a reporter identified himself.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating all factors leading to the crash including how much experience the pilot had with this model of plane and any mechanical or structural problems with the aircraft.
The 12 people killed were identified as Thacker, Kurt John Roy , Michael Shanahan , David Hershberger , Sai Karthik Varma Datla , Matthew Swope , Dustin McKinney , Jen Sharp , Marcus Miller , Nicholas Nash , William Fischer and Dane Cordes , according to the Bates County Coronerâs Office.
Skydiving helped one jumper get sober
McKinneyâs wife said her husband was meticulous about safety when he jumped after his love for skydiving prompted him to get sober seven years ago.
âIt feels like this is the only way that skydiving could have taken out Dustin, because it was such a freak accident,â Kathryn Nold said. âIt was the most horrific thing. Itâs still very surreal.â
McKinney, 44, worked at a furniture store and played drums in Kansas City-area bands. The father of two also had a part-time paying gig as a videographer for Skydive Kansas City .
âHe could just immediately make people feel seen and warm and want to be around him, and I just feel infinitely lucky that we were the center of his world and able to experience that love from him that he gave so effortlessly to everyone,â Nold said of her high school sweetheart.
Honoring his sister by jumping
Shanahan took up skydiving just before his older sister Nikki died from breast cancer in 2016, his mother said Tuesday.
âHe wanted to live his life and make it worth having fun, having a good time, doing something he enjoyed, and skydiving was something he had always wanted to do, unbeknownst to us,â Gloria Shanahan told The Associated Press.
Shanahan honored his sister by skydiving on her birthday, Motherâs Day and the anniversary of her death. He then visited her grave.
Shanahan, 54, jumped Saturday just for fun. He booked Sundayâs jump as a backup in case the weather was bad but decided to go ahead and jump both days anyway, his mother said.
âWe do not regret that he did. He got to live the life that he wanted to,â she said.
Shanahanâs skydiving instructor was Hershberger, who was on the plane with him Sunday. The two had another bond. Hershberger taught violin to two of Shanahanâs grandchildren.
Hershberger, 54, also taught orchestra and played trumpet with the Kansas City Wind Symphony. His summers were spent at Skydive Kansas City , often harnessed to inexperienced jumpers exhilarated and nervous to cross something off their bucket lists.
Skydiving to find out more about yourself
Sharp, 55, took her first jump in 1989 when she was 18. Some 6,800 jumps later, she was a legendary instructor at the highest levels of the sport and the coach for Thackerâs certification.
On herâŠ
Read the full article at The Washington Times âLacy Reynolds witnessed the crash of a plane in Butler, Missouri, which killed 11 passengers and a pilot. The incident has made her question whether she would continue skydiving.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses a personal experience related to skydiving and a tragic accident, with no political commentary, framing, or bias evident in the content provided.
The article discusses the lives of 11 skydivers and a pilot who were killed in a plane crash in Missouri. It highlights their passion for skydiving, describing them as individuals who found both thrill and peace through the activity. The piece includes quotes from family members, such as Blake Thacker's mother, who spoke about her son's dedication to skydiving and how it influenced his confidence and career.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on the personal stories and experiences of the victims without taking a political stance or showing bias toward any particular ideology. It emphasizes their hobbies, careers, and personal growth related to skydiving, avoiding any political commentary or framing.
All 12 people aboard a skydiving plane died on Sunday when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Kansas City.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a tragic accident without taking a stance or showing bias. It provides factual information about the incident without any apparent ideological framing.
Eleven skydivers and their pilot were killed after their plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Butler, Missouri. A witness described the incident to Lana Zak.
Bias read (Center): The subject matter is not politically charged. The article reports on a tragic accident involving skydivers without any apparent political framing or bias.
A Missouri plane crash involving a skydiving operation resulted in the death of all 12 people aboard, including 11 skydivers and a pilot. Skydive Kansas City described the incident as a 'devastating loss' and stated that the company is cooperating with local authorities, the FAA, and the NTSB as they investigate the cause of the crash. The company has not yet released the names of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a tragic event without apparent political framing. It focuses on the facts of the incident, the response from the involved company, and the ongoing investigation. There is no discernible ideological slant in the language used or the information presented.
Official sources cited
A plane crashed in a Missouri field during a skydiving outing, killing all 12 people on board. Authorities stated the crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. CST after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. No foul play has been suspected.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information without apparent ideological framing. It reports on a tragic event with no evident bias in language, sourcing, or emphasis. The focus is on the incident itself and the response by authorities.
Official sources cited
A private plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers on a skydiving outing crashed in a field near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, killing all 12 people on board. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff around 11:30 a.m. Local authorities, including the Bates County Sheriff and the Federal Aviation Administration, responded to the incident. The plane, operated by Skydive Kansas City, was identified as a single-engine turboprop aircraft. According to an airport official, the pilot appeared to be experiencing engine trouble and attempted to land on a highway but stalled and crashed nosefirst
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a tragic accident without taking a stance or showing bias toward any political perspective. It provides factual details about the event, quotes officials, and describes the response efforts without editorializing or emphasizing any particular viewpoint.
Official sources cited
Eleven passengers and a pilot were killed shortly after takeoff near the Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a plane crash involving skydivers without any political commentary, framing, or biased language. It focuses solely on the event itself with no indication of ideological slant.
A plane carrying skydivers crashed near Kansas City, Missouri, resulting in 12 fatalities. The incident occurred when the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control shortly before the crash.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a tragic accident without political commentary, framing, or emphasis on any particular political perspective. It focuses solely on the event itself and does not include any biased language or selective sourcing.
Authorities report that a skydiving plane crash in Missouri resulted in 12 fatalities, including the pilot.
Bias read (Center): The subject matter relates to a tragic accident involving skydiving equipment and aviation safety, which is not inherently politically charged. The article provides a straightforward account without apparent bias or ideological framing.
A small plane carrying 12 people crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Sunday, killing everyone on board. The aircraft was operated by Skydive Kansas City and was en route to take passengers skydiving. Authorities reported that the plane crashed in a field adjacent to the airport, and emergency responders arrived quickly, extinguishing the resulting fire. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were en route to investigate the incident.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a tragic plane crash with no apparent political framing, emphasis, or ideological slant. It provides factual details about the event without using biased language or selectively presenting information.
Official sources cited
At least 12 people were killed in a plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri. According to authorities, 11 of the victims were skydivers and the 12th was the pilot. The crash occurred approximately 65 miles south of Kansas City. Local law enforcement agencies including the Missouri Highway Patrol, Butler Police Department, and Bates County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a tragic plane crash involving skydivers and a pilot. It provides factual information about the incident, including the number of casualties, location, and responding agencies. There is no evident ideological framing, loaded language, or biased sourcing. The content remains ap
Official sources cited
Twelve people, including the pilot, were killed when a plane crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, with emergency responders arriving at the scene shortly after. The plane was reportedly carrying individuals for skydiving activities. Authorities, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Butler Police Department, and Bates County Sheriff's Office, responded to the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and is investigating the incident.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward account of a tragic event without any apparent ideological framing. It focuses on factual details such as the location, time, and response agencies involved, without showing preference or bias toward any political stance.
Official sources cited
A small plane crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, resulting in all 12 people on board being presumed dead. The incident occurred on Sunday morning, and authorities including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Butler Police Department, and Bates County Sheriffâs Office are at the scene. Business Interstate 49 has been closed in both directions. Video footage shows smoke rising from the wreckage. The Federal Aviation Administration has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a plane crash without any apparent political framing, emphasis, or ideological slant. It provides factual details about the incident, the response by local authorities, and mentions the FAA's lack of immediate comment. There is no indication of biased language, selective focus
Official sources cited
A private plane crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, killing all 12 occupants â 11 skydivers and a pilot. The incident occurred on Sunday morning, and authorities confirmed that all individuals on board died. The cause of the crash and the type of aircraft involved remain under investigation. Social media posts and video footage of the crash site have been shared, but no further details have been released.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward account of a tragic event without any apparent ideological framing. It focuses on factual information such as the number of casualties, location, and status of the investigation. There is no indication of biased language, selective sourcing, or omission of key,
Official sources cited
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