A small plane crash in southern California has left two people dead and 18 others injured after a single-engine Van’s RV-10 aircraft collided with a commercial building in Fullerton. The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 PM PST (10:15 PM GMT) on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Fullerton Police Department reported that ten of the injured were transported to local hospitals, while eight others received treatment at the scene and were released. The identities of the two deceased individuals remain undisclosed, and it is unclear whether they were aboard the plane or inside the building at the time of the crash.
The building struck by the aircraft houses Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture manufacturing business. Congressman Lou Correa, who represents Orange County, stated in a post on X that at least a dozen victims were factory workers.
Eyewitness accounts describe a loud explosion followed by chaos. Juanita Ramirez, an employee at the factory, recounted hearing a “loud bang” before seeing “a large ball of fire flying” toward her. Mark Anderson, another witness, described the sound of a “large boom” before flames engulfed part of the structure.
Security footage from a nearby building captured the fiery explosion, while aerial photos show portions of the plane lodged within the building. The crash ignited a fire that was quickly extinguished by local fire crews.
The plane reportedly attempted to return to Fullerton Municipal Airport, located just six miles from Disneyland, shortly after takeoff. Authorities have begun evacuating surrounding buildings and have urged the public to stay clear of the crash site.
This tragic incident marks the second plane crash in the area within two months. On November 25, another aircraft crashed into a tree just a block away, although no major injuries were reported in that event.
The investigation into Thursday’s crash is ongoing, with federal and local authorities working to determine the cause of the accident.