Eerie sign from the sky that revealed devastating Missouri skydiving plane crash that killed 12 had occurred, locals say

By WILL POTTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:49, 15 June 2026 | Updated: 13:55, 15 June 2026 Locals living near the site of a skydiving plane crash that killed 12 in rural Missouri said an eerie silence over their skies indicated that tragedy had struck.  The crash unfolded Sunday morning shortly after the plane took off from Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, with all 11 passengers and the pilot killed in the wreck.  Neighbors bordering the airport said the area is a skydiving hotspot due to low winds and calm weather during the summer, which typically sees the sounds of small prop plane engines fill the skies.  Locals Daniel and Kendra Stewart said the air can be so quiet that when skydivers open their chutes, they can hear the wafting sounds of them falling to the ground.  'Then you can hear all the guys kind of laughing and yelling to each other,' Kendra told the Kansas City Star.  'That’s why we’re so surprised we didn’t hear anything (on Sunday), because we can hear them talking in the sky.' Officials said the cause of the deadly crash is still under investigation, but preliminary reports showed the aircraft only reached around 100 feet in the air after takeoff before plummeting from the skies.  Kendra said she first saw a Facebook alert about the crash before seeing white smoke from her window, as emergency crews raced to the scene in a nearby field.  Locals living near the site of a skydiving plane crash that killed 12 people in Butler, Missouri on Sunday said they are devastated by the tragedy The crash unfolded Sunday morning shortly after the plane took off from Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, with all 11 passengers and the pilot killed in the wreck Locals say the skydiving and aviation industries are a common part of life for those neighboring the airport, as the sounds of small aircraft are typical.  'It’s like some people go to the lake on the weekend, some people golf on the weekends. They skydive on the weekends,' Kendra added.  'It’s extremely tragic. It’s sad.'  Another neighbor, Jeff Davis, said the plane crashed just a few hundred yards from his home, and said news of the wreck 'broke my heart' as he often enjoys watching the skydivers from his backyard.  't’s just so sad. So sad,' he continued. 'You don't know if they're local or not.'  Speaking just hours after the crash, Davis said he had already seen other skydivers perform jumps on Sunday because it was 'so calm and beautiful this morning.' 'That’s why they were out there so early. They have to wait for the wind to be right for them to be able to jump… Even during the week, in the evenings. If it’s a nice evening, they do it,' he said.  Officials said the aircraft - a Pacific Aerospace P750 operated by Skydive Kansas City - crashed at 11:30am in a botched takeoff.  Officials said the cause of the deadly crash is still under investigation, but preliminary reports showed the aircraft only reached around 100 feet in the air after takeoff before plummeting from the skies Emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire shortly after the crash, with Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt Justin Ewing calling the scene 'brutal' Officials said the aircraft - a Pacific Aerospace P750 (stock image) operated by Skydive Kansas City - crashed at 11:30am Sunday in a botched takeoff The plane took off from Butler Memorial Airport when it 'wasn't able to get enough climb,' and attempted to make a left turn to land on an adjacent highway, a spokesperson with Bates County Emergency Management and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told the Daily Mail.  'The plane wasn't able to land,' and it crashed and burst into flames near Business 49 Highway, the spokesperson confirmed. Emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire shortly after the crash, with Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt Justin Ewing calling the scene 'brutal.' No one on board the aircraft survived, with the identities of the victims yet to be confirmed by authorities.  According to Bates County Emergency Management Director Dennis Jacobs, nine of the 11 skydivers were experienced jumpers, while two were participating in tandem jumps. Jacobs added that multiple witnesses, including family members of some passengers, watched in horror as the aircraft crashed. 'One lady that was there was watching her brother [on the plane], and his wife was there, too, and she was supposed to be on the plane with them,' Jacobs told the outlet. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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