A small plane crashed into a commercial building in Fullerton, California, on Thursday afternoon, leaving at least two people dead and 18 others injured, authorities confirmed.
The crash occurred near Fullerton Municipal Airport, approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
“There are two confirmed fatalities,” Fullerton police announced on X (formerly Twitter). Ten individuals were hospitalized, while eight others were treated on-site for minor injuries.
Investigators are working to determine whether the deceased were aboard the aircraft or present in the building at the time of the crash, a police spokesperson told KTLA.
Eyewitness accounts and television footage revealed extensive damage to the building, including a gaping hole in the roof and smoke billowing from the structure.
“All we hear is like a loud noise, boom, and that’s it. Then we started running out,” Jerome Cruz, a worker who witnessed the crash, told CBS News.
The aircraft, identified as a single-engine Van’s RV-10 with four seats, is being examined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has launched a formal investigation.
Recent Aviation Incidents Highlight Growing Concerns
This incident adds to a string of recent aviation mishaps worldwide:
- December 29, South Korea: A catastrophic crash at Muan International Airport claimed 179 lives when an airliner belly-landed and burst into flames. It marked the worst South Korean aviation disaster in nearly 30 years.
- December 29, Norway-Netherlands: A KLM Boeing 737-800 veered off the runway during an emergency landing in Oslo. All 176 passengers and six crew members were unharmed.
- December 28, Canada: An Air Canada flight experienced landing gear malfunction and skidded during an emergency landing in Halifax, prompting swift action by emergency crews.
As investigations into these incidents unfold, safety concerns surrounding small and commercial aircraft continue to grow.
