A small plane crashed through the top of a huge furniture manufacturing plant in Southern California where at least 200 people were working Thursday, killing two and injuring 19, according to police.
The people who perished were thought to be aboard the plane, while the injured were inside the structure. According to a statement from the Fullerton Police Department, the deceased victims will be identified when police contact their next of kin.
Eleven individuals were brought to hospitals, while eight were treated and released on the spot, according to police.
The jet crashed less than two minutes after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport in Orange County, which is six miles from Disneyland, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.
Security camera footage from Rucci Forged, a nearby wheel manufacturer, shows the jet turned on its side as it crashed into the facility, resulting in a fiery explosion and a black column of smoke.
According to Fullerton police spokesman Kristy Wells, firefighters and officers responded to the location and battled the incident while also evacuating adjacent businesses.
Chris Villalobos, an airport operations worker, arrived at the warehouse to investigate what had happened after receiving a phone report about a nearby plane crash. He noticed that the plane’s owner was a frequent flyer at the airport.
“He has a hangar here and everything,” Villalobos explained.
After taking off, the pilot informed air traffic control that he was going to circle around and make an emergency landing, but it was unclear what was wrong with the jet, Villalobos said.
According to a sign on the door, Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture upholstery maker, occupied the building hit by the plane. There appeared to be sewing machines and textile supplies inside.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash and has identified the plane as a Van’s RV-10, which has a single engine and four seats. The National Transportation Safety Board has also announced that it is conducting an investigation.
Fullerton’s airport has one runway and a helipad. Metrolink, a regional train line, is nearby and runs alongside a residential area and business warehouse buildings.
The Fullerton City Council issued a statement on social media describing the incident as a “solemn 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,” according to a statement released by the mayor. “We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis.”
Another four-seater jet crashed into a tree about a half-mile from the airport in November while making an emergency landing shortly after takeoff, according to The Orange County Register. Both passengers on board sustained moderate injuries.
Fullerton is a city of around 140,000 people located 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
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