This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/virgin-galactic-crash-sir-richard-branson-criticises-selfproclaimed-experts-for-getting-theories-horribly-wrong-9836017.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Virgin Galactic crash: Sir Richard Branson criticises 'self-proclaimed experts' for getting theories 'horribly wrong' Virgin Galactic crash: Sir Richard Branson criticises 'self-proclaimed experts' for getting theories 'horribly wrong'
(about 2 hours later)
Sir Richard Branson has today criticised the British press and "self-proclaimed" experts for writing that an explosion on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spacecraft had led to it crashing and killing a pilot on board.Sir Richard Branson has today criticised the British press and "self-proclaimed" experts for writing that an explosion on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spacecraft had led to it crashing and killing a pilot on board.
In an interview for ITV News, Mr Branson blasted Sunday newspapers for publishing articles discussing “exploding fuel tanks and engines” and publishing pictures of “enormous explosions”, when there was no evidence for an explosion occurring.In an interview for ITV News, Mr Branson blasted Sunday newspapers for publishing articles discussing “exploding fuel tanks and engines” and publishing pictures of “enormous explosions”, when there was no evidence for an explosion occurring.
On Friday, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo broke up in-flight leading the aircraft to crash in California's Mojave Desert, killing 39-year-old co-pilot Michael Tyner Alsbury and seriously injuring 43-year-old pilot Peter Siebold.On Friday, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo broke up in-flight leading the aircraft to crash in California's Mojave Desert, killing 39-year-old co-pilot Michael Tyner Alsbury and seriously injuring 43-year-old pilot Peter Siebold.
Following the crash, Mr Branson said that he had been angry with a “few seasoned sceptical newspapers” that had got it “horribly wrong” in their theories on what had caused the spacecraft to come down.Following the crash, Mr Branson said that he had been angry with a “few seasoned sceptical newspapers” that had got it “horribly wrong” in their theories on what had caused the spacecraft to come down.
He said: “I found it very uncomfortable over the weekend when so many self-proclaimed experts in the UK came out saying there had been an explosion.”He said: “I found it very uncomfortable over the weekend when so many self-proclaimed experts in the UK came out saying there had been an explosion.”
“We are very pleased that the National Transportation Safety Board has denied that.”“We are very pleased that the National Transportation Safety Board has denied that.”
On Sunday night, Christopher Hart, Acting Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board spoke to the press about how the investigation into what caused the crash was progressing.On Sunday night, Christopher Hart, Acting Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board spoke to the press about how the investigation into what caused the crash was progressing.
Video: Watch the full Branson interview belowVideo: Watch the full Branson interview below
 
During the press conference, he said that a team of 13 to 15 people were investigating the wreckage, but that as of yet there were still a lot of “unknowns” surrounding the crash.During the press conference, he said that a team of 13 to 15 people were investigating the wreckage, but that as of yet there were still a lot of “unknowns” surrounding the crash.
Hart said that investigators would be gathering information over the next week, but finding out the definitive cause of the crash could take as much as 12 months.Hart said that investigators would be gathering information over the next week, but finding out the definitive cause of the crash could take as much as 12 months.
In the interview with ITV, Richard Branson said that he was confident that the investigation would be concluded before that.In the interview with ITV, Richard Branson said that he was confident that the investigation would be concluded before that.
He said: “My initial estimate is that the investigation will take nothing like 12 months, the NTSB has given me a strong indication as to what they think caused the crash and I think they are going to be able to ascertain, but of course it is still for them to say, the exact cause of the crash.”He said: “My initial estimate is that the investigation will take nothing like 12 months, the NTSB has given me a strong indication as to what they think caused the crash and I think they are going to be able to ascertain, but of course it is still for them to say, the exact cause of the crash.”
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team surveys a tail section from the crashed Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo near Cantil, California   A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team surveys a tail section from the crashed Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo near Cantil, California Despite the tragedy on Friday, Branson used the interview to reaffirm his intentions to continue Virgin’s development of their Galactic project.
Despite the tragedy on Friday, Branson used the interview to reaffirm his intentions to continue Virgin’s development of their Galactic project.
He said: “We have a wonderful team who are keen to get working on the second spaceship, start work on the third spaceship and get everything back on track.”He said: “We have a wonderful team who are keen to get working on the second spaceship, start work on the third spaceship and get everything back on track.”
Branson did admit that he would not be going into space in February as he had hoped and said that he was unsure exactly when this would happen.Branson did admit that he would not be going into space in February as he had hoped and said that he was unsure exactly when this would happen.
He said: “I am not going to give dates, I have given dates in the past and not met them and I don’t want to give the sceptics about our programme any extra ammunition.”He said: “I am not going to give dates, I have given dates in the past and not met them and I don’t want to give the sceptics about our programme any extra ammunition.”