Plane Crash in Fullerton, Southern California: 2 Dead, 19 Injured

Plane Crash in Fullerton, Southern California: 2 Dead, 19 Injured

Fullerton, California, January 3:
A small plane crashed through the roof of a large furniture manufacturing factory in Fullerton, Southern California, resulting in two deaths and 19 injuries. The tragic accident occurred on Thursday, where at least 200 workers were present in the factory.

In a statement, the Fullerton Police Department said the deceased are believed to have been aboard the plane, while the injured were inside the factory. The identities of the deceased will be disclosed after their next of kin have been informed.

Among the injured, 11 were transported to hospitals, while eight were treated on the scene. The plane crashed less than two minutes after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport, located just 6 miles from Disneyland.

Security footage from a nearby establishment showed the plane tilted on one side as it struck the building, causing a massive explosion and plumes of black smoke.

Chris Villalobos, an airport operations worker, mentioned that the plane's owner was a regular at the airport, frequently taking off from there. After takeoff, the pilot informed air traffic control of plans to return for an emergency landing, but the exact issue with the aircraft remains unclear.

The building struck by the plane belonged to Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture upholstery manufacturer. Inside, sewing machines and textile supplies were observed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident and identified the aircraft as a single-engine, four-seat Van’s RV-10. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also conducting a separate investigation.

The Fullerton City Council described the crash as a "profound tragedy." Mayor Fred Jung stated, "We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show to one another in times of crisis."

Notably, in November, another four-seat plane crashed into a tree near the Fullerton airport during an emergency landing, leaving two individuals moderately injured.

Fullerton, a city of about 140,000 residents, is located approximately 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.