3-1-2025 (CALIFORNIA) A small aircraft plummeted into a furniture manufacturing facility in Fullerton, California, resulting in two fatalities and leaving 18 others injured. The crash occurred at a bustling factory where approximately 200 workers were present at the time of impact.
According to Fullerton Police spokesperson Kristy Wells, authorities are yet to determine whether the deceased were occupants of the aircraft or factory workers. The single-engine Van’s RV-10, a four-seater aircraft, met its tragic end less than two minutes after departing from Fullerton Municipal Airport, situated merely six miles from Disneyland, as confirmed by FlightAware tracking data.
Dramatic footage captured by security cameras at Rucci Forged, a neighbouring wheel manufacturing facility, revealed the aircraft banking sharply before plunging into the building, triggering a fierce explosion and sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, with firefighters battling the blaze whilst police coordinated the evacuation of nearby businesses. Of the injured, ten required hospital treatment, whilst eight others received medical attention at the scene.
Airport operations worker Chris Villalobos, who visited the crash site, disclosed that the aircraft’s owner was a regular presence at the facility with a dedicated hangar. According to Villalobos, the pilot had radioed air traffic control shortly after takeoff, requesting an emergency landing, though the nature of the aircraft’s difficulties remains unclear.
The ill-fated building housed Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture upholstery manufacturer. The facility, filled with sewing machines and textile materials, sustained significant damage in the incident.
This crash marks the second aviation incident near Fullerton Municipal Airport in recent months. Last November, another four-seat aircraft made an emergency landing just half a mile from the airport, resulting in moderate injuries to both occupants when the plane struck a tree.
Fullerton Municipal Airport, which features a single runway and heliport, is situated in a mixed-use area, bordered by Metrolink rail lines, residential developments, and commercial warehouses. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident.
Fire department is on a 4-alarm response after a small plane has crashed into a commercial warehouse near Fullerton Airport, along Raymer Ave in Orange County, California on Thursday, 2nd January.
The aircraft which is suspected to be a Van’s RV-9A, crashed 200 yards from the… pic.twitter.com/2rn5xXB6wI
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) January 3, 2025
