CHINO, Calif.—A vintage plane crashed and caught fire near a Southern California airfield during a Father’s Day event hosted by an air museum, resulting in the tragic death of two individuals, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the twin-engine Lockheed 12A crashed just west of Chino Airport in San Bernardino County around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames within 10 minutes and discovered the bodies of the two victims inside the aircraft, said Chino Valley Fire District Battalion Chief Bryan Turner. The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed.
Bryan Turner described the plane as an older, historical aircraft that was owned by the Yanks Air Museum, according to the Southern California News Group.
The crash occurred during the Yanks Air Pops & Props event, although it is unclear if the plane was part of the scheduled show.
Following the incident, the air museum announced on Facebook, “At this time we are working with local authorities and the FAA. 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 through this difficult time.”
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The Yanks Air Museum boasts a collection of hundreds of restored airplanes, as reported by the news group.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a thorough investigation into the tragic incident.
