A small plane crashed into a manufacturing facility near Fullerton Municipal Airport in California on Thursday afternoon, killing two people and injuring 18 others.
The crash occurred at 2:09 p.m. PST, shortly after the plane took off from the airport. The aircraft, a single-engine Van's RV-10, was less than a mile away from the airport when the incident occurred.
According to air traffic control audio reviewed by The Los Angeles Times, the pilot of the plane was heard gasping and uttering "Oh my God" moments before the plane crashed into a furniture manufacturing business, where most of the casualties occurred.
The impact caused an explosion and fire, which was captured on nearby security footage shared on social media.
Rep. Lou Correa, who represents the area in Congress, confirmed that 12 of the injured individuals were inside the building at the time of the crash.
The FAA has confirmed that the plane was attempting an emergency landing, initially declaring an intention to land on Runway 6 before changing course to Runway 24. The final communications from the pilot, just moments before the crash, were inaudible, adding to the tragic nature of the event.
The crash has shaken the local community, with witnesses describing hearing a loud explosion followed by a report of the building being on fire.
Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung expressed his support for the affected families and praised first responders for their quick actions in the aftermath.
Multiple agencies are investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred just two minutes after takeoff. The plane was registered to a resident of Huntington Beach, California. Fullerton is located about 25 miles south of Los Angeles.
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