A homemade plane crashed this Thursday afternoon into a warehouse in the city of Fullerton, Orange County, Californialeaving a balance of at least two people dead and eighteen injured, according to reports AP. The accident involved a model aircraft Van’s Aircraft RV-10which fell onto the roof of the furniture factory Michael Nicholas Design Factory shortly after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport.
The incident occurred around 2:09 p.m. local time and forced the evacuation of more than one hundred people working in the affected warehouse. Firefighters and police officers responded quickly to control the fire caused by the impact and help the injured. “Nine of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals, while another six were treated at the scene,” the official said. Daily Mail.
Early research indicates that the pilot was trying to return to the airport shortly after takeoffalthough it has not yet been confirmed how many people were on board the plane. NBC4citing witnesses, reported that “a dense column of black smoke was visible from kilometers away, including areas near the airport.”
Eyewitnesses recounted moments of panic after the impact. Mark Andersona worker at a nearby factory, told NBC4 that “one of the employees ran out and screamed, ‘Oh my God, the building is on fire.’” Images broadcast by the chain KABC They showed white smoke coming from the roof of the warehouse, reflecting the magnitude of the fire.
The impact of the accident was significant, generating a strong explosion which activated an immediate response from Fullerton emergency services. The affected warehouse, located in an industrial area close to residential areas and the regional railway line Metrolinksuffered considerable damage. According to him Daily Mail, The explosion forced operations to be halted. at several nearby facilities as a precaution.
Fullerton Fire Captain Ron Slaterexplained to KABC The fire spread quickly across the warehouse roof, but crews managed to contain the flames in less than 45 minutes. “It was a complex operation as we had to ensure there was no risk of structural collapse while evacuating the injured and securing the area,” Slater said.
Local authorities, together with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)have started an investigation to clarify the causes of the accident. Until now, No details have been released about the identity of the pilot or other possible victims. that could have been on board.
Fullerton Municipal Airport, known for its general aviation activity, is a hotspot for pilots of small and experimental aircraft. The city, with approximately 140 thousand inhabitants, is located 40 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles and has a single runway and a heliport.
Michael Nicholas Design Factory, the company affected by the accident, manufactures furniture and home products. The company has issued a statement expressing its solidarity with employees and their families. “We deeply regret this tragic incident and are fully collaborating with the authorities to determine the causes of the accident,” the company said in a statement reported by NBC4.
This incident has reignited the dispute over safety in homemade and experimental aviation, a sector that has grown in recent years in the United States. Van’s Aircraft RV-10 model is popular among home aircraft builders due to its ability to carry up to four people and its relative ease of assembly.
He Daily Mail reported that the FAA will issue a preliminary report in the coming days, while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will evaluate the engine conditions, weather conditions and other factors that may have contributed to the accident.
The accident in Fullerton is not an isolated event. According to FAA data, homemade aircraft represent approximately 10% of the general aviation fleet in the United States, but are involved in a higher proportion of accidents. In 2023, 27 fatal accidents involving experimental aircraft were reported, according to the annual safety report of the NTSB.
Experts point out that many of these incidents occur during the first test flights or shortly after maintenance. “Although these aircraft are rigorously inspected, it is not always possible to predict how they will react in emergency situations, especially during takeoff and landing,” he commented. David Ralstonaeronautical engineer cited by NBC4.
Local and federal authorities have urged homemade airplane builders to subject their aircraft to additional inspections before each flight and to participate in specialized training programs. The EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association)an organization that promotes the construction of homemade airplanes, has reiterated its commitment to safety, providing guides and workshops to avoid similar accidents.
