LOS ANGELES (AP) — According to air traffic control audio recordings, the pilot of a small plane in Southern California attempted to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff before tragically crashing through the roof of a building. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, resulted in the loss of two lives and left 19 individuals injured. As of now, authorities have not released the identities of the deceased nor confirmed if they were passengers on the plane.
The Fullerton Municipal Airport was the point of departure for the ill-fated flight. Following takeoff, the pilot communicated to the air traffic control tower the urgent need for an immediate landing. Initially indicating a plan to land on Runway 6, the pilot was subsequently given the option by the air traffic controller to choose either Runway 6 or 24 for the emergency landing. Just moments before the crash, panicked sounds and a distressed voice exclaiming, “Oh my God,” could be heard on the audio recording before silence enveloped the communication.
Federal investigators have indicated that the aircraft made a request to return to the airport when it was at an altitude of about 900 feet (274 meters). Unfortunately, the plane crashed approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters) short of Runway 24, breaching a building owned by Michael Nicholas Designs, known for furniture manufacturing.
A preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration characterized the cause of the crash as “unknown circumstances.” The aircraft, a single-engine, four-seat Van’s RV-10, was registered to a resident of Huntington Beach and had been assembled in 2011. Of the 19 individuals affected by the incident, 11 were transported to hospitals for treatment, while eight received medical attention on-site. Fullerton’s Deputy Chief of Fire Operations, Michael Meacham, noted that injuries ranged in severity from minor to critical.
Security camera footage from Rucci Forged, a nearby wheel manufacturing facility, captured the plane’s downward trajectory as it plunged into the building, resulting in a fiery explosion and billowing black smoke. Witness reports from Chris Villalobos, an airport operations worker, suggest that the plane’s owner was a familiar figure at the airport, with a personal hangar and a history of frequent departures.
The City of Fullerton issued a statement via social media expressing condolences for the “solemn tragedy.” Mayor Fred Jung emphasized the city’s commitment to extending support to all those impacted by the crash and collaborating with relevant agencies to ascertain the details surrounding the incident. Fullerton, a community of approximately 140,000 residents located southeast of Los Angeles, has been deeply affected by the recent aviation disaster.
In light of this unfortunate event, authorities are working diligently to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash and provide assistance to those affected by the tragedy. The aftermath of the incident has underscored the resilience and solidarity of the community, as efforts are underway to address the aftermath of this devastating occurrence.
The incident in Fullerton is a stark reminder of
