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Two Dead, 18 Injured After Small Plane Crashes Into Building

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 3rd, 2025.

Two Dead, 18 Injured After Small Plane Crashes Into Building

A small plane crashed into the roof of a commercial building in Fullerton, Southern California, on Thursday, killing two people and injuring 18 others, authorities reported.

The crash occurred at approximately 2:09 p.m. when emergency services were alerted to the incident. Fullerton Police spokesperson Kristy Wells confirmed the details, saying first responders quickly arrived to combat the ensuing fire and evacuate nearby businesses.

The blaze caused significant damage to a warehouse, which housed sewing machines and textile inventory. The building was occupied by Michael Nicholas Designs, a business specializing in furniture upholstery.

Among the injured, ten people were hospitalized, while another eight were treated on-site, according to police. Two fatalities were confirmed, but authorities have not yet clarified whether the victims were passengers in the plane or people on the ground.

Details about the aircraft, including its type, are still unclear, though a flight tracking site indicated the four-seat, single-engine plane crashed about a minute after takeoff.

Surveillance footage from a nearby company, Rucci Forge, shows a fiery explosion followed by a large plume of black smoke as the plane appeared to dive into the building, tilting as it descended.

The crash site is near Fullerton Municipal Airport, located roughly six miles from Disneyland. The airport serves general aviation flights and has a single runway. The area also includes residential neighborhoods and commercial zones, with Metrolink rail lines nearby.

This is the second plane crash in the area within a year. Last November, another small aircraft crashed into a tree during an emergency landing shortly after takeoff, leaving both passengers with moderate injuries.

Fullerton, a city of about 140,000 residents, is located about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.