US Missouri plane crash kills pilot and 11 skydivers

The plane was carrying a pilot and 11 skydivers at the time of the crash.

Missouri: A small aircraft crashed and was destroyed in the US state of Missouri, killing all 12 people on board, according to international news agencies.

Officials said the plane was carrying a pilot and 11 skydivers at the time of the crash. The incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. in Bates County, according to local law enforcement.

Authorities including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash after reaching the scene.

In a separate incident in Brazil, two helicopters collided mid-air, resulting in the deaths of six people. Reports also suggested that American singer Oliver Tree was believed to be among those on board one of the helicopters, though official confirmation is still awaited.