Two people aboard a historic World War II plane died Saturday when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Chino Airport in Southern California, fire officials said.
The private Lockheed L12 aircraft was off the runway approximately 200 yards away in a grassy field when firefighters arrived around 12:35 p.m., Bryan Turner, Chino Valley Fire District battalion chief, told ABC News.
The identities of the deceased passengers were not immediately revealed.
Turner said it’s too early to say why the plane crashed, but there was a fire involved.
The Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California, said in a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday that one of its aircraft was involved in the fatal crash.
“At this time we are working with local authorities and the FAA,” the statement said. “The Yanks Air Museum will be closed until further notice as our family deals with this tragedy, and we appreciate your patience and respect for our privacy as we navigate this difficult time.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, both agencies said.
Two dead after WWII plane crash near California airport: authorities originally appeared in abcnews.go.com
