Virgin Galactic pilot 'thrown free' from spacecraft

The pilot who survived the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo accident was thrown clear as the craft broke up around him, the BBC reported, citing investigators.

Peter Siebold was interviewed about the fatal test flight by a team from the US National Transportation Safety Board.

He parachuted clear as the craft disintegrated over the Mojave desert on 31 October, but co-pilot Michael Alsbury was killed.

It will take investigators at least a year to compile their full report.

Their test was to be one a series that Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic company hoped would finally lead to a commercial passenger service to sub-orbital space being introduced next year.

Mr Siebold, who was interviewed by NTSB investigators on Friday, said he was not aware that his co-pilot had prematurely unlocked the descent braking system.

The NTSB gave no explanation for the crash, but SpaceShipTwo broke apart seconds after igniting its rocket engine, and shortly after the "feathering" system had been unlocked.

Mr Siebold said he unbuckled from his seat at some point during a fall that began several kilometres up. His parachute subsequently deployed automatically.

Investigators have not revealed the exact altitude of the break-up, but previous SpaceShipTwo test flights flew to about 16km (10 miles) above the Earth.

At this altitude it is highly likely that Mr Siebold lost consciousness for some time due to the lack of oxygen.

In an update, the NTSB said that the on-scene part of the investigation had now concluded and that the wreckage had been recovered and stored at a secure location.