Two people lost their lives and 18 others were injured when a small plane crashed into a commercial building in southern California on Thursday afternoon. The accident, which involved a single-engine Van’s RV-10 aircraft, occurred at approximately 2:15 PM PST (20:15 GMT), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Fullerton Police Department confirmed that ten of the injured were transported to local hospitals, while eight others were treated at the scene and released. The crash happened in Fullerton, about 25 miles south of Los Angeles, near the Fullerton Municipal Airport, and just six miles from Disneyland.
While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, authorities stated that the plane appeared to have been attempting to return to the airport shortly after takeoff. The aircraft slammed into a furniture manufacturing business, sparking a fire that was swiftly extinguished by firefighting teams. Aerial photos from the scene show parts of the plane inside the building, adding to the devastation. Local news outlets reported security footage capturing a fiery explosion, which was described as a “large boom” by one witness.
Mark Anderson, a witness to the incident, told KRCA-TV, “It was just a large boom, and then one of the people went out and said, ‘Oh my gosh, the building’s on fire.’” He added that the community was deeply shaken by the event.
Congressman Lou Correa, representing Orange County, confirmed that at least a dozen of the victims were factory workers employed at the Michael Nicholas Designs furniture factory, which was located in the building struck by the plane. Authorities evacuated around 100 people from the factory in the aftermath of the crash.
Juanita Ramirez, an employee of the factory, recounted the terrifying moment when she heard a loud bang before witnessing a large ball of fire heading toward her. “It felt like a dream,” she said, still in shock from the incident.
The two people who died in the crash have not yet been identified, and it remains unclear whether they were factory workers or passengers on the plane. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
This marks the second plane crash in the Fullerton area in the past two months. On November 25, another small aircraft crashed into a tree just a block away from Thursday’s incident. Thankfully, no major injuries were reported in that earlier crash.
As emergency crews work at the crash site, local police are advising the public to stay clear of the area for safety reasons. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to provide more details as they become available.
