3rd January 2025 – (Fullerton) A small aircraft crashed into the rooftop of a commercial building in Fullerton, Southern California, on Thursday, resulting in two fatalities and eighteen injuries, according to local police. The incident occurred at approximately 2.09pm, as reported by Kristy Wells, a spokesperson for the Fullerton Police Department.
Emergency services quickly responded to the scene, where firefighters battled a blaze ignited by the crash and evacuated nearby businesses. The building, occupied by Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture upholstery manufacturer, sustained significant damage, with reports indicating it housed sewing machines and textile stock.
Of the eighteen injured, ten individuals were transported to local hospitals, while eight received treatment at the scene and were subsequently released. The identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed, and it remains unclear what type of aircraft was involved or whether the injured were passengers or pedestrians.
Flight-tracking data from FlightAware indicates that the four-seat, single-engine plane crashed roughly one minute after takeoff. Security footage from a nearby wheel manufacturer captured the moment of impact, showing a fiery explosion and a substantial plume of black smoke as the plane descended at an angle toward the building.
The crash occurred close to Fullerton Municipal Airport, a general aviation facility located about six miles from Disneyland, which features one runway and a heliport. The area is also adjacent to a residential neighbourhood and several commercial warehouses. Notably, another four-seat plane had crashed into a tree half a mile from the airport last November during an emergency landing, resulting in moderate injuries for both occupants.
Fullerton has a population of approximately 140,000, situated about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
