Two people perished, and 18 others sustained injuries after a small plane collided with a building rooftop in Southern California on Thursday.
Fullerton police and fire teams rushed to the scene after receiving reports of an “unknown plane” striking a commercial building’s roof shortly after 2 p.m. local time, according to Fullerton Police Department spokesperson Kristy Wells.
The incident, which remains under investigation, occurred about half a mile from the Fullerton Municipal Airport.
Following the crash, emergency responders rushed ten individuals to local hospitals for treatment, reported the Fullerton Police Department on X.
Meanwhile, eight others received immediate medical attention and were promptly released at the scene.
It remains unclear whether the people killed were inside the plane.
Upon arriving at the scene, police and fire personnel immediately began evacuating the surrounding business area due to an active fire.
Local television footage and images showed plumes of smoke rising out of the building.
The crash ignited a 4-alarm fire, prompting a swift mobilization of firefighters and police to the scene, officials reported.
Fire crews and law enforcement rushed to the area, battling flames and securing the perimeter, addressing the emergency promptly.
U.S. Rep. Lou Correa, who represents parts of Orange County, said in a statement on X that the plane crashed into a furniture manufacturing building.
The Federal Aviation Administration told USA TODAY that the aircraft was a single-engine Van’s RV-10.
“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate,” the agency said.
“The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation”.
Fullerton is located about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
On Thursday, Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung expressed gratitude to first responders and celebrated community resilience through a City Council statement.
“After this tragic event, the City of Fullerton stands together, supporting those affected and collaborating with agencies to investigate,” Jung stated on Facebook.
“We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis.
Together, we will move forward with resolve, care, and unity”.