2 dead when vintage plane crashes during Father’s Day event at Southern California airfield

CHINO, California – Two people were killed aboard a vintage plane that crashed and burst into flames near a Southern California airfield during a Father’s Day event hosted by an aviation museum over the weekend, authorities said Sunday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the twin-engine Lockheed 12A crashed shortly after 12:30 p.m. Saturday west of Chino Airport in San Bernardino County.

Firefighters extinguished the flames within 10 minutes before finding the two dead inside, said Battalion Chief Bryan Turner of the Chino Valley Fire District. The names of the victims had not been released as of Sunday afternoon.

Turner described the plane as older and historic. The plane belonged to the Yanks Air Museum, the Southern California News Group reported.

The crash occurred during the Yanks Air Pops and prop event, although it was not immediately clear whether this aircraft was part of the show.

“We are currently working with local authorities and the FAA. The Yanks Air Museum will remain closed until further notice as our family grapples with this tragedy. We thank you for your patience and respect for our privacy as we navigate this difficult time,” the aviation museum said on Facebook.

The museum has hundreds of restored aircraft, the news group reported.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the case.