9th such incident in 15 days
A plane crashed into the rooftop of a commercial building in Fullerton, leaving two people dead and 18 injured. The crash occurred at 2:09 p.m. in Orange County, according to Fullerton police spokesperson Kristy Wells. Firefighters and police responded promptly, battling a fire sparked by the crash and evacuating nearby businesses.
The building, occupied by furniture upholstery manufacturer Michael Nicholas Designs, suffered significant damage, with sewing machines and textile stock destroyed in the blaze. Among the injured, 10 people were hospitalized, while eight received treatment on-site and were released. The identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed.
Details about the plane remain unclear, but the flight-tracking website FlightAware identified it as a four-seat, single-engine aircraft that crashed approximately one minute after take-off. Footage from a nearby security camera captured the moment of impact, showing the plane tilting sideways before exploding into flames, sending a plume of black smoke into the sky. The crash site is located near Fullerton Municipal Airport, a general aviation hub about 6 miles from Disneyland. The area includes a mix of residential neighbourhoods and commercial warehouses.
This is not the first such incident in the area. In November, another four-seat aircraft crashed into a tree near the airport during an emergency landing, injuring both passengers moderately. Fullerton, a city of 140,000 residents, lies approximately 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.
Here is a look at the tragic incidents that unfolded in last 15 days
- December 17: Kamaka Air crash in Hawaii and the Argentina Challenger crash near San Fernando Airport, killing both pilots.
- December 22: A private plane crash in Brazil and a Papua New Guinea Islander crash.
- December 23: A small aircraft crash in Scotland.
- December 25: Azerbaijan Airlines crash near the airport on Christmas Day.
- December 28: Jeju Airplane crash in South Korea.
