Pilot and 11 skydivers killed in 'mass casualty' US plane crash in front of family members

Twelve people have been killed after a plane carrying skydivers crashed moments after taking off in Missouri.

The aircraft went down near Butler Memorial Airport, located roughly 60 miles south of Kansas City.

All 11 passengers and the pilot died in the crash, according to Skydive Kansas City, the firm operating the flight.

"Tragically, all 12 individuals aboard lost their lives in the accident," the skydiving operator confirmed.

The crash is the worst aviation disaster to strike the rural town of Butler.

Emergency services were told of the incident shortly before 11:30am local time.

The single-engine turboprop aircraft had left just 10 minutes earlier, but failed to climb high enough into the air after take-off.

The plane then executed a sharp left turn before plummeting roughly 300 yards from the runway.

Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County emergency management director, told Reuters the aircraft did not gain visual altitude before turning.

The aircraft had only risen to around 30 metres in the air when it went down.

Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson confirmed the incident appeared accidental with no suggestion of criminal involvement.

"This is not a commercial airliner that has crashed; it's a local airplane that took off from our local airport," Anderson said. "This appears to be an accident."

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Family members of those aboard were present at the airport and had to watch the crash unfold.

Officials said the passengers had been preparing for tandem skydives, with many of the dead inexperienced first-time skydivers.

"We are treating that as a national or as a mass casualty," the sheriff added.

The identities of the victims will remain confidential until relatives have been informed.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators are expected to arrive at the scene on Monday.

A final report determining the probable cause may take as long as two years to complete.

Airport manager Mr Jacobs suspects the aircraft suffered power problems before it went down.

"It had just taken off and made a left turn," Jacobs said. "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."

Weather conditions were unlikely to have contributed, officials said, noting Sunday was sunny despite overnight storms.

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