A World War II-era plane crashed during a Father’s Day event in California, killing both pilots on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA said the twin-engine Lockheed 12A aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Chino, California, on Saturday, June 15, at approximately 12:35 p.m.
Authorities said two people were on board the plane at the time of the crash, and no one was injured on the ground.
Authorities have not released the identity of the pilot, but two friends who spoke to FOX 11 said one of the victims was Frank Wright, director of operations at the Yankees Air Museum.
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According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a plane crashed shortly after takeoff during a Father’s Day event in Chino, California on June 15, killing both pilots on board. (KTLA)
Witnesses told FOX 11 that Wright had been attending a panel discussion at a Father’s Day event at the museum before the accident.
An eyewitness described the moment the plane crashed to the station, saying it “happened right before our eyes.”
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A plane crashed shortly after taking off from Chino Airport in Southern California on Saturday, killing both people on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (ABC7)
A witness recalled the moment of impact to FOX 11, saying the plane was “under 300 feet” in altitude when it began to bank to the left.
“The plane went into a steep dive and the first thing that hit was the left wing,” the witness said. “And then this happened: [an] It exploded immediately. [a] Big fireball, black smoke.”
The Yankees Air Museum released a statement saying it was working with the FAA to determine what caused the plane to crash.
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“Just after noon yesterday, one of our museum’s aircraft crashed in a vacant lot near the Chino Airport, killing both occupants. The museum is currently working with local authorities and the FAA,” the museum said in a statement.
The museum will be closed until further notice, it added.
“As our family deals with this tragedy, Yanks Air Museum will be closed until further notice. We thank everyone for their patience and respect for our privacy as we navigate this difficult time,” the museum wrote.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.
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The NTSB told FOX 11 that investigators were on scene Sunday and the plane will be transported to a secure facility for examination.
