POINT MUGU (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board says a commercial aerial refueling tanker that burned on a Southern California Navy base experienced an engine fire during a takeoff attempt.

The NTSB said Thursday it dispatched a team of investigators to the Naval air station at Point Mugu, where the four-engine aircraft was destroyed Wednesday. Its three crew members escaped with only minor injuries.

The safety board says the Boeing 707 was registered to and operated by Omega Air Inc., a contractor that uses converted civilian airplanes to provide aerial refueling services to the military.

The air station at Point Mugu is part of Naval Base Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles.

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