Two Died, 19 Injured In Plane Crash Near Fullerton Municipal Airport

Investigation Underway After Plane Crashed Through Roof of Building Near Fullerton Municipal Airport 

FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA (January 2, 2025) – Two people have died and 19 people were injured in a Southern California plane crash at a warehouse near the Fullerton Municipal Airport.

Orange County officials are saying that the incident took place around 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. A single-engine Van’s RV-10 crashed through the roof of a warehouse by the Fullerton Municipal Airport.

The plane crash caused a fire that sent black smoke into the air. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims.

Videos from the scene of the accident showed people with graphic injuries. One person ran from the building while their arm was on fire.

In all, two people died in the crash. Another 19 people were injured, including 10 people who required hospitalization.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the incident.

Liability for Orange County Plane Crashes 

Flying remains a very safe form of transportation. According to USA Facts, “Air travel is the nation’s safest form of transit. Injury and death rates in US air travel have been almost zero per 100 million passenger miles traveled since 2002, and the number of aviation accidents declined from 2000 to 2022.” The vast majority of accidents take place in private aviation. There are a number of factors that may contribute to a crash with a smaller aircraft.

• Pilot error remains one of the leading causes of crashes in private aviation.
• Severe weather such as high winds, thunderstorms, and turbulence can make landing smaller planes very difficult.
• Many flights are due to fuel exhaustion because the planes were not adequately fueled before the flight.
• Mechanical issues with the engine could cause a plane to stall.

There could be numerous sources of liability for any plane crash. The company that owned or operated any aircraft could be liable if the plane was not being used in a safe manner. Generally speaking, companies are vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. They could also be liable for failing to properly maintain an aircraft if this contributed to a crash.

The federal government could also bear some liability for a plane crash. It is the federal government, through the FAA, that operates air traffic control towers. If a worker at one of these towers gave a pilot inaccurate information, this could lead to a crash. For example, they could say that a runway was clear when it was not. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any plane crash.

• Maintenance records for the plane should be reviewed.
• The black box of the plane involved should be recovered.
• Medical records related to injuries should be collected.
• Surveillance footage that captured the collision should be sought.

Plane crashes are often highly complex events. The factors that may lead to any plane crash could take place hours, days, or even weeks beforehand. The FAA will usually take months to a year to complete their investigation into any crash. But these investigations are far from exhaustive. This is why it is so important to get a second opinion from a skilled personal injury attorney. If you’ve been injured in a plane crash, an attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Orange County Plane Crashes

We at Samer Habbas & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims who died in this plane crash near Fullerton Municipal Airport. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the FAA. It is our sincere hope that the investigation will help reveal what measures can be taken to prevent similar tragedies.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Fullerton plane crash? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 727-9300.