• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Indian techie Sai Karthik Varma Datla among 12 killed.
  2. Skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Missouri.
  3. NTSB investigating cause of tragic accident without black box.

A 24-year-old Indian techie, Sai Karthik Varma Datla, was among the 12 people killed in a tragic skydiving plane crash in Missouri, United States. He was the only Indian national among those who lost their lives in the accident that took place on Sunday morning shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, Missouri, about 80 miles south of Kansas City.

Datla lived in the Kansas City metropolitan area and worked in the healthcare technology sector. According to his LinkedIn profile, he had completed a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Central Missouri. He was working with AdventHealth and had previously been employed by Capgemini. His work focused on cloud migration, automation, and software deployment projects.

About the Crash

Datla was travelling in a 2010 Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft along with the pilot and 10 other skydivers. According to federal investigators, the plane crashed into a field on airport property and caught fire, killing all 12 people on board. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) confirmed that its Technology Director, Jen Sharp, was among those killed in the crash. Several videos of the crash have also emerged online.

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What Went Wrong Moments After Takeoff?

Officials said the aircraft turned back shortly after takeoff for reasons that are still unknown. Witnesses reported that the plane was flying at a low altitude of around 100 feet when it suddenly made a sharp left turn before crashing. According to Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager, the aircraft appeared to be losing power. He suggested the pilot may have been trying to make an emergency landing but lost control when the plane stalled and crashed nose-first into the ground.

Investigation underway

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the accident. NTSB Vice Chairman Michael Graham said investigators are interviewing witnesses and collecting photos and videos to determine what caused the crash. He added that as the aircraft did not have a "black box" flight recorder like commercial airliners, investigators are searching for other devices or evidence that could help explain what happened.

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