(TruthAndLiberty.com) – On Saturday, during a Father’s Day event in California, a World War II-era plane crashed, resulting in the death of two pilots.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash occurred at 12:35 p.m. (PT), shortly after the twin-engine Lockheed 12A had departed the Chino Airport.
Two pilots were aboard the plane when it crashed, according to officials. No injuries from bystanders were reported.
While authorities hadn’t identified the names of the pilots initially, reporting by FOX 11 revealed that one of the victims was the Yanks Air Museum’s Chief of Operations, Frank Wright.
A witness to the crash reportedly told FOX 11 that earlier on Saturday, Wright had participated in a panel discussion for the museum’s Father’s Day event.
The witness also revealed details about the crash, stating that the plane was “no more than 300 feet in the air” when it began banking left.
The witness added that the plane “took a nosedive,” before its left wing impacted the ground, and an immediate explosion “like [a] fireball” followed.
On Sunday, Yanks Air Museum released a statement, noting that it was working with the FAA to ascertain the cause of the crash, confirming that one of its aircraft had been in “an accident in an unoccupied field near Chino Airport.”
The museum also revealed that it would be “closed until further notice” as it “deals with this tragedy,” expressing appreciation for the “patience and respect” of its patrons as it “navigate[s] through this difficult time.”
The FAA and NTSB are currently investigating.
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