(Scypre.com) – In a tragic incident during a Father’s Day celebration in California, a vintage World War II-era aircraft met a devastating end, claiming the lives of two pilots aboard. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the twin-engine Lockheed 12A crashed shortly after takeoff from Chino Airport at approximately 12:35 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.
The crash site, located in an unoccupied field near the airport, bore witness to a harrowing scene as the aircraft, carrying two individuals whose identities were not immediately disclosed by authorities, plummeted to the ground. Miraculously, no injuries were reported among bystanders on the ground.
Details emerged slowly following the tragedy, with friends of one of the victims providing heartbreaking insights. Speaking to FOX 11, acquaintances revealed that one of the deceased was Frank Wright, noted as the Chief of Operations at the Yanks Air Museum, where the ill-fated flight had a poignant connection. Just moments before the crash, Wright had participated in a panel discussion as part of the museum’s Father’s Day festivities, underscoring the suddenness and tragedy of the events that followed.
Eyewitnesses recounted the chilling spectacle to local media, describing how the vintage plane suddenly veered off its intended path. “It happened right in front of my eyes,” one witness told FOX 11, detailing how the aircraft, barely 300 feet in the air, inexplicably began to bank to the left before abruptly nosediving. The impact was swift and catastrophic, with the left wing striking the ground first, igniting an immediate and ferocious blaze.
In response to the incident, Yanks Air Museum issued a solemn statement, expressing deep sorrow over the loss and vowing cooperation with aviation authorities in the investigation. “At this time, we are working with local authorities and the FAA,” the museum announced, also informing the public of its temporary closure as a gesture of mourning and respect for the victims’ families.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) swiftly mobilized their teams to probe the crash’s cause. Speaking to FOX 11, NTSB officials confirmed that an investigator had been dispatched to the crash site, with plans to transport the wreckage to a secure facility for meticulous examination.
As the investigation unfolds, questions loom over what factors led to the tragic demise of the Lockheed 12A and the loss of its occupants. The aviation community and local residents alike remain in a state of shock and grief, grappling with the stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with historic aircraft operations.
For now, the skies above Chino Airport remain somber, with the echoes of a Father’s Day celebration overshadowed by the stark reality of lives lost and a community left to mourn.