Two people who were aboard a historic World War II plane were killed Saturday when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Chino Airport in Southern California, firefighters said.
The Lockheed L12 private plane was about 200 yards off the runway in a grass field when firefighters arrived around 12:35 p.m., Chino Valley Fire District battalion chief Bryan Turner told ABC News.
The identities of the deceased passengers were not immediately released.
Turner said it was too early to say why the plane crashed, but there was a fire.
The Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California, said in a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday that one of its planes 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.
2 dead after WWII plane crashes near California airport (officials) originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
