WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—A skydiving plane crashed Sunday in the central US state of Missouri, killing 12 people on board, emergency responders told AFP.

The crash occurred near Butler Memorial Airport, about 60 miles (95 kilometres) south of Kansas City, said Dennis Jacobs, director of Bates County Emergency Management Agency.

The private plane, carrying 11 skydivers and a pilot, turned around for an unknown reason after taking off around 11:30 am and crashed near a highway, prompting authorities to close the road, local media reports said.