Aviation News

2011-05-18

Boeing 707 Tanker Crashes, Bursts Into Flames at California Naval Base

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Written by: BNO News
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A large tanker aircraft crashed at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California late Wednesday afternoon, officials said, but all crew members survived the accident.

Crashed K-707 at Point Mugu Air Station, Ventura County, Calif.

Crashed K-707 at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Ventura County, Calif. (Photo via KABC-TV)

Base spokesman Vance Vasquez said the accident happened at around 5.25 p.m. local time when a Boeing 707 tanker aircraft was attempting to depart from runway 2-1.

“It was departing our main runway, 2-1, and it crashed at 5.25 p.m. and apparently it skidded off our main runway. It never did get airborne,” Vasquez said, adding that three people were on board. “All three were able to escape out of the aircraft.”

Vasquez did not know the extend of their injuries. “Honestly, really all I know is that there were three people on board and that they were able to get out of the aircraft, and that’s just a miracle in itself,” he added.

The plane involved in the accident was a tanker aircraft that was being operated by Omega Aerial Refueling Services, which operates under a contract with the Naval Air Systems Command. “[The aircraft] is temporarily based out here at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu and it is supporting fleet operations here, providing tanker support for fighter aircraft,” the spokesman said.

Footage from the scene showed large plumes of black smoke billowing from the burning aircraft, causing officials in the area to warn residents to stay indoors. Vasquez said there was around 158,000 pounds of fuel on board.

Vasquez did not know where the aircraft was heading, and Omega’s president, W. Stewart Orr, refused to comment on the accident when contacted by telephone.

It was not immediately clear what caused the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to investigate the cause of the accident.



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  • Eugene Pitout

     Could this be one of those Chemtrail planes that they spray the
    population with? Why is everything so myterious and unclear? Three
    people were on the plane and they cannot find out even wether it was
    landing ort taking off? Wheres Norad? I mean its sa simple as “Were you
    landing or taking off? ” It seems the people who were on board
    “escaped”? Something fishy in all of this.

  • Anonymous

    Since when does anyone use water to put out a fuel fire? 

  • apletter

    This isn’t a conspiracy…….. A plane broke down and these guys landed it without causing harm to anyone but themselves. These guys are skilled Navy pilots, they did their job and prevented civilian injuries… Lay off.

  • Howard Lebow

    Possibly a loss of Power before liftoff (Rotation)In other words-An aborted Takeoff with no loss of life. A very skilled flight crew and a lot of good fortune.

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  • Kyle

    I think it was wind, because if you look at the crash site it went of the side of the runway and u really can’t just vear off the runway in a plane that big unless it wad on purpose so I think wind Is the suspect

  • Kyle

    Iv been to point mugu many times and runway 25 usually gets headwinds but it’s possible