A plane carrying parachutists crashed near Butler, Missouri. All 12 passengers have died.

The plane, which was transporting parachutists from Skydive Kansas City, crashed on Sunday morning near Butler Memorial Airport on Interstate 49. All 12 passengers on board the plane died, according to local authorities.

According to the interim airport manager, Dennis Jacobs, the aircraft took off but failed to gain altitude, making a sharp left turn and attempting to land on the highway before crashing. Emergency crews and police were present at the scene, and Interstate 49 was closed in both directions for an indefinite period.

The National Transportation Safety Board has begun to gather information about the accident.