It is far too soon to know what caused this weekend's crash that happened shortly after a plane took off from a small airport about an hour south of Kansas City.

Eleven skydivers and a pilot were killed in Sunday crash as aircraft for Skydive Kansas City was taking off in Butler

The Missouri skydiving community is mourning the loss of several of its members after a plane crash south of Kansas City killed 11 skydivers and a pilot.

The crash occurred around noon on Sunday in Butler, Missouri, as an aircraft supporting operations for Skydive Kansas City was taking off, the company said in a statement on Monday, as reported by the local news outlet KCTV.

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© Photograph: Austin Johnson/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Austin Johnson/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Austin Johnson/AFP/Getty Images

The crash happened shortly after the plane took off from a local airport around 11:30 a.m., and some of the occupants' family members witnessed the crash, said Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson.

Eleven passengers and a pilot were killed after the plane climbed about 100 feet and then crashed to the ground at the Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, officials said.

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Crash reportedly occurred shortly after departure from Butler Memorial airport on Sunday morning

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Twelve people were killed in a plane crash near Butler, Missouri, on Sunday.

According to Bates county emergency management, a private plane that had departed Butler Memorial airport shortly before 11.30am turned back before crashing near Business 49 Highway, Fox 4 reported.

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© Photograph: Austin Johnson/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Austin Johnson/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Austin Johnson/AFP/Getty Images