A devastating plane crash in Bates County, Missouri, has claimed the lives of 12 people—11 skydivers and one pilot. Among the victims was Sai Karthik Varma Datla, a 24-year-old Indian technology professional from Andhra Pradesh. The tragedy is being described as a mass fatality incident and one of the worst skydiving accidents in recent history.
Incident Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Date | Sunday, June 13, 2026 |
| Time | Approximately 11:20 AM – 11:35 AM (local time) |
| Location | Near Butler Memorial Airport, Bates County, Missouri (~80 miles south of Kansas City) |
| Aircraft | Pacific Aerospace P750, operated by Skydive Kansas City |
| Survivors | None |
Sequence of Events
The skydivers and pilot were preparing for a sunny afternoon excursion when the aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure shortly after takeoff:
Failure to Climb: Immediately after departing from Butler Memorial Airport, the aircraft struggled and failed to gain altitude.
Loss of Control: The plane executed a sudden, sharp left turn.
Impact: It crashed into an adjacent field roughly 200 to 300 yards from the runway and immediately erupted in flames.
No Escape: Because the catastrophic failure occurred at such a low altitude, the skydivers had no time to jump before impact.
Emergency Response: Emergency services received the initial alert around 11:00 AM, but tragically, all individuals on board were discovered deceased at the scene.
Some family members of the victims were waiting at the airport and witnessed the event unfold. Clergy and support services were immediately deployed to assist the grieving loved ones as more relatives arrived throughout the day.
The Victims
The Bates County Coroner's Office officially released the names of the 12 deceased individuals. Authorities identified Datla as the sole Indian national involved in the crash.
| Name | Age | Location |
| Sai Karthik Varma Datla | 24 | Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Blake Thacker | 25 | Olathe, Kansas |
| Kurt John Roy | Unknown | Unknown |
| Michael Shanahan | 54 | Kansas City, Missouri |
| David Hershberger | 54 | Liberty, Missouri |
| Matthew Swope | 39 | Independence, Missouri |
| Dustin McKinney | 44 | Stilwell, Kansas |
| Jennifer L. Sharp | 55 | Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Marcus Miller | 30 | Lawrence, Kansas |
| Nicholas Nash | 40 | Harrisonville, Missouri |
| William Fischer | 23 | De Soto, Kansas |
| Dane Cordes | 26 | Richmond, Missouri |
Investigation Status
Multiple federal, state, and local authorities are actively investigating the cause of the tragedy:
Lead Agencies: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have taken the lead on the investigation into what caused the aircraft to fail.
Local Support: The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Bates County Sheriff's Office, and multiple fire and rescue agencies responded to and secured the scene.
Initial Findings: Sgt. Justin Ewing of the Missouri Highway Patrol stated that while the exact cause remains unknown, adverse weather conditions are highly unlikely to have played a role. Officials have also ruled out any evidence of criminal activity or terrorism.
A Community in Mourning
The crash has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit skydiving community. Over the weekend, family and friends gathered for a "Phoenix Memorial" event at Skydive Kansas City to honor the lives lost.
Loved ones remembered the victims for the joy they found in the sport, describing how they found "thrills and peace through jumping." For many, like 25-year-old Blake Thacker who had been jumping since his 18th birthday, skydiving was a deeply ingrained, lifelong passion.
