Local News
Pilot and his teen daughter killed as plane hits SoCal warehouse in Fullerton, injuring 19 people
The aircraft involved was identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a single-engine Van’s RV-10, a four-seat, kit-built plane constructed in 2011.
A tragic plane crash near Fullerton Municipal Airport on Thursday claimed the lives of two individuals and left 19 others injured after a small aircraft slammed into a warehouse, igniting a massive fire.
Authorities confirmed that the pilot and his 16-year-old daughter were killed in the crash. Their identities have not yet been released.
The crash occurred just after 2:00 PM when the single-engine Van’s RV-10 aircraft struck a furniture warehouse located in the 2300 block of Raymer Avenue.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane dive into the building, tilted on its side, followed by a fiery explosion and a towering plume of thick black smoke visible from miles away.
Emergency personnel from the Fullerton Fire Department and Police Department quickly arrived on the scene.
The resulting four-alarm fire prompted the evacuation of dozens of workers from the warehouse. Firefighters battled the intense flames, eventually extinguishing the blaze.
According to Michael Meacham, spokesperson for the Fullerton Fire Department, 19 people sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Of those injured, 11 were transported to local hospitals, while the remaining eight were treated at the scene and released.
One video captured during the incident showed a person running from the burning building with their arm engulfed in flames.
Security footage captured the horrifying moment when the aircraft collided with the building, causing a fiery explosion. The footage shows the plane descending rapidly and striking the warehouse at an angle.
The aircraft involved was identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a single-engine Van’s RV-10, a four-seat, kit-built plane constructed in 2011.
Eliot Simpson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), provided preliminary details on the crash trajectory.
The plane took off from Runway 24 at Fullerton at approximately 2:07 PM.
Shortly after reaching an altitude of 900 feet, the pilot issued a distress call requesting an immediate return to the airport.
Air traffic control cleared the pilot to land on any runway.
The plane attempted a 180-degree turn but crashed approximately 1,000 feet short of Runway 24.
Simpson stated that the NTSB will release a preliminary report within 14 days, with a final report expected within 12 to 18 months.
The FAA and NTSB are leading the investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Early findings indicate that the plane caught fire immediately upon impact with the building.
This tragic incident has raised questions about air safety in the vicinity of the airport and the potential risks posed to densely populated areas nearby. Authorities continue to work diligently to uncover the factors contributing to this devastating event.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.