MOJAVE, Calif. (AP) — A Virgin Galactic space tourism rocket exploded Friday during a test flight, killing one pilot and seriously injuring another while scattering wreckage in Southern California’s Mojave Desert.
Officials said they don’t know what caused the accident. Mojave Air and Space Port CEO Stuart Witt said he “detected nothing that appeared abnormal” before the crash.
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson tweeted that he was flying to the area “immediately.”
Ken Brown, a photographer who witnessed the crash, told The Associated Press that SpaceShipTwo exploded after a plane designed to take it to high altitude released it and the craft ignited its rocket motor.
The California Highway Patrol says one person parachuted out.
Stephen Hawking, Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher and Russell Brand are among the celebrities to sign up for flights.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
