FULLERTON, Calif. — A small plane crashed through the top of a huge furniture manufacturing complex in Southern California on Thursday, killing two people and injuring eighteen others, according to authorities. The building employed at least 200 workers.
According to Fullerton police spokesperson Kristy Wells, the identity of the deceased and whether they were on the ground or on the aircraft were yet unknown.
The flight-tracking website FlightAware reports that the jet crashed less than two minutes after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport in Orange County, which is only six miles from Disneyland.
The jet was turned on its side as it plunged into the building, resulting in a black smoke plume and a blazing explosion, according to security camera footage from Rucci Forged, a wheel manufacturer across the street.
After arriving on the site, police and firefighters fought the fire and forced nearby businesses to evacuate, according to Wells.
Chris Villalobos, who works in airport operations, got a report about a jet crashing down close by and came to the warehouse to check on the situation.
According to him, the plane’s owner frequently arrived at the airport and has taken off from it.
Villalobos stated, “He has a hangar here and everything.”
According to Villalobos, the pilot informed air traffic control that he intended to turn around and make an emergency landing after takeoff, but it was not apparent what the problem with the aircraft was.
A sign on a door identified the facility as belonging to Michael Nicholas Designs, a manufacturer of furniture upholstery, and it seemed as though it contained sewing machines and textile stock.
According to authorities, eight individuals were treated and discharged at the site, while ten were transported to the hospital. Wells said there were two verified deaths.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft was a four-seat, single-engine Van S RV-10.
There is a heliport and one runway at the Fullerton airport. A residential area and commercial warehouse buildings located on either side of the neighboring Metrolink regional train line.
According to the Orange County Register, a fourth four-seat aircraft made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff in November and collided with a tree a half mile from the airport. Both passengers were moderately injured.
About 140,000 people live in Fullerton, a city located 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
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