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Sai Karthik Varma Datla, a 24-year-old Indian tech professional, was among 12 people killed when a skydiving aircraft crashed shortly after take-off in Missouri.
Sai Karthik Varma Datla was a technology professional based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. (LinkedIn)
A 24-year-old Indian techie, Sai Karthik Varma Datla, was among the 12 people killed after a skydiving aircraft crashed shortly after take-off in Missouri, United States, authorities said.
Datla was identified as the only Indian national among those who died in the crash near Butler Memorial Airport in Bates County, around 80 miles south of Kansas City. The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, went down moments after take-off on Sunday morning, leaving no survivors.
According to authorities, the plane involved was a Pacific Aerospace P750XL used for skydiving operations. Investigators said the aircraft appeared to turn back shortly after take-off before crashing into a field near the airport and bursting into flames on impact.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation into the accident. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings are expected in the coming weeks, while a final report could take significantly longer.
Datla was a technology professional based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. According to his LinkedIn profile, he studied at the University of Central Missouri and worked in the healthcare technology sector. His professional experience included cloud computing, DevOps engineering and IT infrastructure, with a focus on cloud migration, automation and software deployment.
Friends and members of the Indian community remembered him as an ambitious young professional who had moved to the United States to pursue higher education and build a career in technology. Telugu media reports said he hailed from India and had recently established himself in the American workforce.
The crash also claimed the lives of several experienced skydivers, instructors, tandem jumpers and the pilot, many of whom were well known within the regional skydiving community.
Among the victims was Jen Sharp, technology director of the United States Parachute Association (USPA), who had logged more than 6,800 jumps during her career and was widely regarded as a mentor in the sport.
Also killed was Dave Hershberger, a respected high school orchestra director and music teacher whose family said skydiving had become one of his greatest passions outside the classroom. Matthew Swope, a cancer survivor who had completed more than 750 jumps, was remembered by friends as someone who found renewed confidence and purpose through skydiving after overcoming illness.
The victims also included Dustin McKinney, a father of two and videographer for Skydive Kansas City; 23-year-old Will Fischer, who was close to earning his instructor certification; and Mike Shanahan, a grandfather of six and a familiar face in the local skydiving community.
Others killed in the crash were Marcus Miller, Nick Nash, Dane Cordes, tandem jumpers Terry Phillips and Kathy Phillips, and pilot Jason Dahl.
As investigators work to determine what caused the fatal accident, tributes continue to pour in for the victims, whose lives touched communities ranging from technology and education to aviation and skydiving.
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