SpaceShipTwo pilot was thrown free by breakup - NTSB
MOJAVE, Calif. (KABC) -- The surviving pilot of the Virgin Galactic spaceship accident was thrown clear of the disintegrating craft, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The investigation update Wednesday stated that pilot Peter Siebold was unaware that his co-pilot Mike Alsbury had prematurely unlocked the craft's re-entry braking system.
PHOTOS: Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo accident
The update did not provide any details on what caused SpaceShipTwo to crash Oct. 31 in the Mojave Desert.
The NTSB says Siebold told investigators on Friday that he was pulled from the aircraft when it disintegrated. He told investigators he unbuckled from his seat at some point during his fall and his parachute deployed automatically.
VIDEO: Crash site of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo
The NTSB previously said the ship designed to fly tourists to the edge of space tore apart a few seconds after the co-pilot unlocked the braking system.
Alsbury, 39, died at the scene of the crash. Siebold received minor surgery for a shoulder injury and was recently released from the hospital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
