In brief: Biplane crashes at crowded air show

FAIRFIELD, Calif. – A vintage biplane crashed Sunday while performing at a Northern California air show attended by thousands of people.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Stearman biplane crashed in an open field away from spectators at 2:05 p.m. at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County. Black smoke rose from the wreckage as crowds were evacuated from the base.

Lynn Lunsford of the Federal Aviation Administration said emergency responders said the pilot did not survive.

No spectators were injured in the crash that happened as the pilot performed an acrobatic aerial maneuver over the tarmac, said Sgt. Rachel Martinez, a spokeswoman for the base. The plane was operated by a civilian, she said.

The 1944 plane was registered to Edward Andreini, of Half Moon Bay, according to FAA records. An Air Force statement later Sunday identified the 77-year-old Andreini as the pilot.

Two dead, 6 missing after boat wreck

PHOENIX – Two Chinese sailors died and six are believed to be missing after their boat sank in the Pacific Ocean, an official at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base said Sunday.

Maj. Sarah Schwennesen said a Venezuelan fishing boat reported finding 11 sailors floating in a raft Friday afternoon.

She said the Venezuelan crew said four sailors were badly burned. Two later died of their injuries.

Airmen from the 563rd Rescue Group parachuted into the water Saturday afternoon and used inflatable boats to reach the Venezuelan vessel, which is 1,100 nautical miles west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Schwennesen said. They treated the injured sailors Saturday and into Sunday morning.

The sailors were to be hoisted, along with the U.S. airmen, onto three helicopters Sunday and flown to Cabo San Lucas. The injured pair would then be taken to a burn unit in San Diego, accompanied by the airmen giving them care.

Powerade drops debated ingredient

NEW YORK – Coca-Cola is dropping a controversial ingredient from its Powerade sports drink, after a similar move by PepsiCo’s Gatorade last year.

The ingredient, brominated vegetable oil, had been the target of a petition by a Mississippi teenager, who questioned why it was being used in a drink marketed toward health-conscious athletes. The petition on Change.org noted that the ingredient is linked to a flame retardant and is not approved for use in Japan or the European Union.

At the time, Coca-Cola declined to say whether it would remove the ingredient from the two flavors of Powerade that contain it as well.