2 Dead, 19 Injured in Plane Crash at Southern California Factory

A small plane crashed through the roof of a bustling furniture manufacturing building in Fullerton, California, on Thursday, killing two people and injuring 19 others. The victims who died are believed to have been on board the plane, while the injured were inside the facility, authorities said.

The incident occurred shortly after the single-engine Van’s RV-10 aircraft took off from Fullerton Municipal Airport, located six miles from Disneyland. According to police, the plane crashed less than two minutes after takeoff. Witnesses and surveillance footage revealed the plane was tilted on its side before slamming into the Michael Nicholas Designs furniture factory, triggering a fiery explosion and a plume of black smoke.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. According to Chris Villalobos, an airport operations worker, the pilot had attempted to turn back for an emergency landing after takeoff. However, the cause of the emergency remains unclear. Villalobos noted the pilot was a frequent user of the airport, with a hangar on-site.

Of the 19 injured, 11 people were transported to hospitals, while eight received treatment at the scene. The names of the deceased will be released after their families are notified, the Fullerton Police Department said.

The furniture factory, where at least 200 employees were present, sustained significant damage. The Fullerton City Council expressed its condolences on social media, calling the crash a “solemn tragedy.” Mayor Fred Jung assured the community of ongoing support for those affected and a commitment to uncovering the incident’s details.

This crash marks the second aviation accident near Fullerton Municipal Airport in recent months. In November, another small plane crashed into a tree during an emergency landing, injuring two people.

Fullerton, a city of 140,000 residents, is located 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles and is home to a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial facilities.