On Saturday, two individuals tragically lost their lives when a historical World War II plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Chino Airport in Southern California. A private Lockheed L12 aircraft veered off the runway and came to rest in a grass field approximately 200 yards away when firefighters arrived at the scene at around 12:35 p.m., according to battalion chief Bryan Turner with Chino Valley Fire District.
Turner stated that it is still too early to determine the cause of the crash, but he confirmed that there was a fire involved. Yanks Air Museum, located in Chino, California, released a statement on Facebook confirming that one of its aircraft was involved in the tragic incident. The museum expressed their cooperation with local authorities and the FAA and announced that they will remain closed until further notice as they deal with the aftermath of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be conducting investigations into the crash. The details of the crash and the events leading up to it are still under investigation.
