Indian Tech Professional Among 12 Killed in Missouri Plane Crash

Datla, who held a master's degree in computer science from the University of Central Missouri, was a Kansas City-based technology specialist working for AdventHealth. His professional background included cloud migration and automation projects after he moved to the United States for his graduate studies. The crash also claimed the life of Jen Sharp, the technology director for the United States Parachute Association.

The 2010 Pacific Aerospace 750XL plummeted into a field on airport property shortly before 11:30 a.m. Witnesses reported the aircraft appeared to lose power while attempting an abrupt turn at low altitude, possibly in an effort to reach a nearby highway. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are currently collecting witness accounts and visual evidence, as the aircraft lacked a standard flight data recorder. While the model is widely used in skydiving for its short-runway capabilities, the specific plane involved had completed nine successful flights in the days leading up to the tragedy.