Missouri authorities announced Sunday that 12 people were killed in a plane crash in a "mass casualty" event that left everyone on board dead.
Sources told Butler Police Department and deputies from the Bates County Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene and are assisting with the crash investigation.
Sheriff Anderson said the crash appeared to be an accident and emphasized there is no indication of criminal activity.
"We are treating that as a national or as a mass casualty," he 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."
The aircraft was carrying passengers preparing for a tandem skydive, officials said, adding that many were inexperienced first-time skydivers.
Some family members of the victims were at the airport and witnessed the crash, officials said.
Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing said the aircraft landed in a field adjacent to the airport and that a nearby roadway would be shut down as a precaution.
The aircraft involved was a single-engine turboprop model manufactured in 2020, The AP reported, noting it is widely used for skydiving operations and capable of operating on short runways.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.