Two Dead, 19 Injured as Aircraft Crash in Southern Brazil”>Light Aircraft Crashes into Furniture Factory in California
A light aircraft has crashed into a furniture factory in Fullerton, California, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuring 19 others, according to local police. The accident occurred on Thursday afternoon when the plane, which had just taken off from Fullerton Municipal Airport, lost control and crashed into the roof of the manufacturing plant.
The identities of the deceased have not been revealed, nor has it been confirmed if they were aboard the plane or on the ground at the time of the incident. Kristy Wells, spokeswoman for Fullerton Police Department, stated that the investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.
Footage from security cameras at a nearby business, Rucci Forged, showed the aircraft banking sharply before plummeting into the building in a fiery explosion. The force of the impact caused significant damage to the structure, which was occupied by around 200 people at the time.
Emergency services, including firefighters and police, arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames and evacuate nearby businesses. Chris Villalobos, an airport operations worker, said that he had rushed to the site after receiving a call about an aircraft crashing nearby.
The aircraft, a four-seater Van’s RV-10, was owned by a habitual user of Fullerton Municipal Airport, who has a hangar at the facility. According to Villalobos, the pilot reported experiencing engine trouble shortly after takeoff and attempted to return to the airport for an emergency landing. However, it is not yet clear what the exact cause of the trouble was.
The building that was struck, known as Michael Nicholas Designs, is a furniture upholstery factory, with sewing machines and fabric materials scattered inside. Ten of the injured were transported to local hospitals, while eight were treated at the scene and later released.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified the aircraft as a single-engine Van’s RV-10, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that they are investigating the accident. Fullerton Municipal Airport has one runway and a helipad, situated close to a Metrolink train line and residential and commercial buildings.
In response to the tragedy, Fullerton City officials released a statement on social media describing the accident as a "solemn tragedy." Mayor Fred Jung reassured the community that the city would provide support to those affected and work with relevant agencies to uncover the details of the incident.
Remarkably, this is not the first time an aircraft has experienced trouble near Fullerton Municipal Airport. Last November, another four-seater plane crashed into a tree less than a kilometer away while attempting an emergency landing shortly after takeoff. Both occupants sustained moderate injuries in that incident.
Fullerton, a city of approximately 140,000 people, is located about 40 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles.
