By admin 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Twelve people, almost all skydivers, are dead after a plane crashed south of Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday.
Read more Germany surges to a 3-1 halftime lead as Curacao nets its 1st World Cup goal
A spokesperson with Bates County Emergency Management said that just before 11 a.m., a private plane leaving the Butler Memorial Airport turned around for an unknown reason before crashing in the area of Business 49 Highway.
Missouri Highway Patrol confirmed that all 12 people aboard the plane are dead.
Eleven skydivers and a pilot were said to be aboard, sources told Nexstar’s WDAF.
Emergency crews were searching the area to determine if any skydivers were able to jump from the plane before the crash.
Responders were able to quickly extinguish the plane, which became engulfed in fire after crashing, according to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing. He described the scene as “brutal” to the Associated Press.
Read more Raleigh couple gets life in prison for killing pregnant woman, hiding body in suitcase
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL that crashed is a single engine turboprop plane model that’s popular for skydiving but has also proven useful for other uses, including cargo, aerial surveying and medical evacuation flights. The aircraft can carry as many as 17 skydivers and is capable of taking off and landing on short runways. The plane that crashed Saturday was manufactured in 2010, according to FAA records.
The small airport serves around 30 aircraft, all privately owned, including crop dusting companies and sky dive operators, Ewing said. All lanes of the nearby highway are closed.
The investigation into the crash is expected to last several days as authorities work to determine what led up to the crash.
Read more Mike Brown now has been part of 5 NBA championship runs. The Knicks got this one right
WDAF is working to gather more information.
This is a developing story.