Virgin Galactic crash investigation reveals safety device got activated without command from pilots

The US investigation into the Virgin Galactic spacecraft crash has reportedly revealed that a safety device installed on the ship, designed to slow the spaceship on re-entry, was activated without any command from the pilots.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Christopher Hart, who is leading the investigation, added that it was too early to confirm any possible cause of the crash, reported the BBC.

Media reports had earlier suggested that the use of unconventional and unstable fuel propulsion to fire the craft and a faulty engine design were the possible causes of the crash. However, Hart said that both the fuel tank and the engine were found intact.

The spacecraft went down during its 35th test flight over California's Mojave Desert, killing one of the two pilots manning the craft.

Virgin had hoped to launch commercially in 2015 and had already taken about 700 flight bookings at 250,000 dollars each.