Two Dead and Eighteen Injured in Plane Crash into Southern California Building

Security footage from a nearby business reveals the plane was tilted on its side as it crashed into a furniture manufacturing building, triggering a massive explosion. 

Jan. 3, 2025, 9:39 AM GMT+6 

FULLERTON, Calif. — A small plane crashed into a furniture manufacturing facility in Fullerton, California, Thursday, killing two people and injuring 18 others. At the time of the crash, the building was occupied by at least 200 people, police reported.

The identities of the deceased and their locations—whether aboard the plane or on the ground—have not been confirmed, according to Fullerton police spokesperson Kristy Wells.

The crash occurred less than two minutes after the plane took off from Fullerton Municipal Airport in Orange County, which is located just six miles from Disneyland. According to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, the plane crashed shortly after takeoff.

Security camera footage from Rucci Forged, a wheel manufacturer across the street from the crash site, shows the plane tilted sideways as it plummeted into the building, triggering an explosion and billowing black smoke.

Emergency responders, including firefighters and police, rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire and evacuate nearby businesses. Wells confirmed that ten people were taken to the hospital, while eight others received on-site treatment. The two confirmed fatalities were also reported.

Chris Villalobos, an airport operations worker, visited the crash site after receiving a call about the downed plane. He noted that the plane's owner was a frequent flyer at the airport and had a hangar there. Villalobos further reported that after taking off, the pilot informed air traffic control of his intent to turn around for an emergency landing, though the exact cause of the crash remains unclear.

The building involved in the crash houses Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture upholstery business. Inside the building, police observed sewing machines and fabric stock.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a single-engine Van's RV-10, a four-seat aircraft. Fullerton Municipal Airport features a single runway and a heliport. The area is also served by Metrolink, a regional train service, and is situated next to a residential neighborhood and several commercial warehouses.

This incident comes just over a month after another small plane, also a four-seater, crashed into a tree near the airport. The previous crash, which occurred during an emergency landing shortly after takeoff, left both passengers with moderate injuries.

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