19 Injured, 2 Dead After Homemade Aircraft Crashes in US
Two people lost their lives, and 19 others were injured on Thursday afternoon when a small, homemade aircraft crashed into a warehouse in Fullerton, California.
The plane struck the roof of a commercial warehouse located about half a mile from the Fullerton Municipal Airport, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Security footage captured the fiery explosion at the crash site, showing bright orange flames and thick plumes of dark smoke rising into the sky.
The aircraft, identified as a homemade Van’s Aircraft RV-10 with seating for up to four, took off from the Fullerton Municipal Airport at 2:07 p.m. Tragically, it crashed just two minutes later, at 2:09 p.m., as it attempted to return to the airport, KNBC-TV reported.
The 19 individuals injured were inside the warehouse at the time of the crash. Among them, 11 were transported to the hospital for treatment, while the remaining eight were treated on-site.
Witnesses interviewed by local media recounted the chaos that unfolded.
“People are just shaken over the situation,” said Mark Anderson, a witness who spoke to the press.
“It was just a large boom, and then one of the people went out and said, ‘Oh my gosh, the building’s on fire,’” he added.
Emergency response teams from various agencies, including the Fullerton Police and Fire Departments, Buena Park Police, La Habra Police, Cal State Fullerton University Police, Brea Fire, Anaheim Fire, Huntington Beach Fire, and the Orange County Fire Authority, arrived swiftly to manage the situation, according to KVUE.
Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung issued a statement on behalf of the City Council, praising the efforts of first responders.
“As we come together in the wake of this tragedy, the city of Fullerton is committed to providing support for all those affected and working with the agencies involved to uncover the details of this incident,” said Jung.
“We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis,” he continued. “Together, we will move forward with resolve, care, and unity.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement to KNBC-TV, confirming that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
“A single-engine Van’s RV-10 crashed in Fullerton, California, around 2:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 2,” the statement read.
“The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide all updates.”