A devastating plane crash in rural Missouri has left 12 people dead after a skydiving aircraft went down shortly after takeoff Sunday morning, authorities confirmed.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened near Butler Memorial Airport, about 65 miles south of Kansas City. Officials said all 12 people aboard the aircraft were killed, including 11 skydivers and the pilot.

The aircraft, identified by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Pacific Aerospace P750 turboprop, crashed around 11:35 a.m. local time while departing from the small local airport. Witnesses and emergency officials said the plane burst into flames upon impact.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire shortly after the crash, but there were no survivors.

Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the tragedy as a “mass casualty” event and clarified that the aircraft was not a commercial airliner.

“We are treating that as a national or as a mass casualty,” Anderson said. “We want to be very clear. This is not a commercial airliner that has crashed. It’s a local airplane that took off from our local airport.”

Authorities say the plane had just departed before turning around, for reasons under investigation. Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and director of the Bates County Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press he believes the aircraft may have suffered engine or power issues moments after takeoff.

“It had just taken off and made a left turn,” Jacobs explained. “In my opinion, I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire.”

Officials said the aircraft came down in a field near Business 49 Highway adjacent to the airport. Nearby roads were temporarily shut down as investigators and emergency crews worked the scene.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the crash, with the NTSB leading the inquiry.

Authorities also revealed that many of the passengers onboard were preparing for tandem skydives and were believed to be inexperienced or first-time skydivers. Some family members reportedly witnessed the horrifying crash from the airport grounds.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond as families now begin grieving the sudden loss of loved ones.

The aircraft involved was manufactured in 2020 and is commonly used for skydiving operations due to its ability to operate from short runways and carry multiple passengers.

As investigators work to determine exactly what went wrong in the final moments of the flight, many are mourning a heartbreaking accident that unfolded in seconds.

In moments like these, tragedies serve as painful reminders of how fragile life can be and how quickly circumstances can change. Christians across the country are already lifting up the victims’ families, first responders and investigators in prayer as they search for answers and comfort in the days ahead.

Lord, bring peace and comfort to every grieving family affected by this tragedy. Surround them with Your presence and strength during this heartbreaking time. Amen.