Missouri plane crash kills 12

International

ELEVEN skydivers and a pilot were killed in a plane crash in the US State of Missouri, officials said.

According to the Bates Country Emergency Management, the aircraft departed on Sunday, around 11:20 a.m. Spokesperson said that the plane failed to gain altitude, made a sharp left turn and crashed 200 yards from the airport.

In a BBC report, Bates Country Sheriff, Chad Anderson described the accident “as a mass casualty”during the afternoon press conference. According to Sheriff Anderson, the plane was a local airplane and not a commercial airliner.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the plane as Pacific Aerospace P750. According to FAA, the air traffic services were not being provided at the time. A spokesperson explained that the plane operated where the communication was not required due to the type of air space.

Sheriff said that some family members of the deceased saw the whole accident. Authorities have not released information on the identities of the victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead investigating the accident.(Jose Daniel Tista, HNU Comm Intern)