Plane Crash at California Factory Kills 2, Injures 19

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Above: The seal of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during an investigative hearing by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, DC, US, on Aug. 6, 2024.  Image copyright: Al Drago/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Facts

  • A single-engine Van's RV-10 aircraft crashed through the roof of Michael Nicholas Designs, a furniture manufacturing facility in Fullerton, California, at approximately 2:09 pm on Thursday.

  • The plane crashed less than two minutes after taking off from Fullerton Municipal Airport, which is located just six miles from Disneyland, according to flight tracking data.

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The Spin

Narrative A

The aircraft owner was a regular at Fullerton Municipal Airport with an established presence, including a personal hangar, suggesting experienced operation of the aircraft. The attempt to make an emergency landing indicates awareness and appropriate response to mechanical issues.

NBC

Narrative B

The incident raises serious concerns about airport safety, particularly given that this is the second crash near Fullerton Municipal Airport in recent months, following a November incident where a four-seat plane crashed into a tree during an emergency landing.