Plane Crash at California Factory Kills 2, Injures 19

Facts

• A single-engine Van's RV-10 aircraft crashed through the roof of Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture manufacturing facility in Fullerton, California, at approximately 2:09 pm on Thursday.^[1][2]
• The plane crashed less than two minutes after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport, which is located just six miles from Disneyland, according to flight tracking data.^[3]
• Security camera footage from a nearby business showed the aircraft tilted on its side before diving into the building, causing a fiery explosion and creating a large plume of black smoke.^[4]
• The incident resulted in two fatalities and 19 injuries, with 10 people requiring hospitalization and eight others receiving treatment at the scene.^[5]
• Approximately 200 workers were present in the building at the time of the crash, prompting immediate evacuation of the facility and surrounding businesses by first responders.^[3]
• The pilot had reportedly contacted air traffic control about making an emergency landing before the crash, though the specific issue with the aircraft remains unclear. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the incident.^[4][5]

Sources: ^[1]New York Post, ^[2]Associated Press, ^[3]CNN, ^[4]NBC and ^[5]USA Today.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by NBC. The aircraft owner was a regular at Fullerton Municipal Airport with an established presence, including a personal hangar, suggesting experienced operation of the aircraft. The attempt to make an emergency landing indicates awareness and appropriate response to mechanical issues.
• Narrative B, as provided by Associated Press. The incident raises serious concerns about airport safety, particularly given that this is the second crash near Fullerton Municipal Airport in recent months, following a November incident where a four-seat plane crashed into a tree during an emergency landing.