A thrilling skydiving adventure turned into a major tragedy in Missouri, USA, when a small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 12 people on board. The incident occurred near the Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, located about 80 miles south of Kansas City. According to US authorities, the single-engine Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft experienced technical difficulties, lost control at an altitude of just 100 feet, and flipped over into an empty field, instantly bursting into flames.
Among the victims was 24-year-old Sai Karthik Varma Datla, a young Indian software engineer. Sai Karthik had moved to the United States for his higher education and successfully completed his Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Central Missouri. He was building a promising career in healthcare technology, working as a technology professional at AdventHealth in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and had previously worked with IT giant Capgemini. The crash also claimed the life of Jen Sharp, the Technology Director of the US Parachute Association (USPA).
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated a thorough investigation into the crash. NTSB Vice Chairman Michael Graham stated that while the exact cause remains unknown, investigators are reviewing photos and videos of the incident. Although this small aircraft was not equipped with a traditional commercial “black box,” data will be recovered from other electronic devices on board. Flight tracking data revealed that the 2010-model aircraft was highly rated for skydiving operations and had completed nine successful flights earlier that same day.
