CHINO, California — Two people died aboard a vintage plane that crashed and burst into flames near a Southern California airport during a weekend Father’s Day event hosted by an air museum, authorities said Sunday.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the twin-engine Lockheed 12A crashed shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday just west of Chino Airport in San Bernardino County.
Firefighters extinguished the flames within 10 minutes before finding the two people dead, said Bryan Turner, battalion chief for the Chino Valley Fire District. The names of the victims have not yet been released as of Sunday afternoon.
Turner described the plane as older and historic. The plane was owned by the Yanks Air Museum, the Southern California Newsgroup reported.
The crash occurred during the Yanks Air Pops & Props event, although it was not immediately clear whether that plane was part of the show.
“We are currently working with local authorities and the FAA. 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 air museum said on Facebook.
The museum has hundreds of restored aircraft, the news group said.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.