Deadly Plane Crash Rocks Southern California; 2 Dead, 19 Injured

On Thursday, a small plane crash in Southern California left two people dead and 19 others injured. The plane crashed through the roof of a large furniture manufacturing building where at least 200 people were working, according to the police.

The deceased individuals are believed to have been on the plane, while those injured were inside the building. The Fullerton Police Department has stated that the victims’ identities will be released once their families have been notified.

Out of the 19 people injured, 11 were taken to hospitals while the remaining eight received treatment at the scene and were then released. The extent of the injuries varies, with some being minor and others quite serious, said Michael Meacham, the Deputy Chief of Fire Operations in Fullerton.

Crash Details and Investigation

Eliott Simpson, an aviation accident investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board, noted that the pilot asked to return to the airport shortly after takeoff. The pilot was at about 900 feet (or 274 meters) and received permission to land immediately, although he did not explain the reason for his sudden turn-back request.

The plane crashed less than two minutes after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport, which is located six miles from Disneyland. Simpson added that the crash happened approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters) short of Runway 24. The information was obtained from the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Security cameras at Rucci Forged, a wheel manufacturer nearby, captured the plane tilting to its side before it collided with the building, causing an explosion and a large plume of black smoke.

Emergency responders arrived quickly and battled the fire, also evacuating nearby businesses, according to Kristy Wells, a spokesperson for the Fullerton police.

Eyewitness Accounts and Further Details

Chris Villalobos, who works at airport operations, rushed to the warehouse to find out what had happened after receiving a call about the crash. He recognized the airplane’s owner as a regular at the airport, noting, “He has a hangar here and everything.” Villalobos mentioned that the pilot told air traffic control he was turning around for an emergency landing, though the exact problem with the plane remains unclear.

The building struck by the plane belonged to Michael Nicholas Designs, a company that manufactures furniture upholstery. Inside were sewing machines and textiles, as suggested by a sign on the door.

The plane involved in the crash was identified as a single-engine, four-seat Van’s RV-10 by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the accident. Simpson from the NTSB mentioned the aircraft was built in 2011 and is a known “kit-built airplane.”

The Fullerton airport has only one runway and a heliport. Nearby, the Metrolink regional train line runs along residential homes and commercial warehouses.

Official Response and Historical Context

The Fullerton City Council described the crash as a “solemn tragedy” in a statement posted to social media. “The City of Fullerton is committed to providing support for all those affected and working with the agencies involved to uncover the details of this incident,” said Mayor Fred Jung. He also added, “We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis.”

This is not the first time an accident like this has happened in the area. In November, another four-seat plane crashed into a tree about half a mile from the airport while making an emergency landing shortly after takeoff. Both people on board sustained moderate injuries, as reported by The Orange County Register.

Fullerton is a city with a population of around 140,000 residents and is located about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.