Identities of Two Plane Crash Victims in Southern California Remain Unidentified
The Orange County coroner requires additional time to identify the two individuals who perished when a small plane crashed into a warehouse.
“The coroner is actively working on formal identification,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Matthew Timmins to The Epoch Times.
According to him, the county coroner is anticipated to need at least one more day for victim identification due to the “nature of the crash.”
Fullerton police cleared the site by noon on Friday and handed it over to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for further inquiry, as per Fullerton police spokeswoman Kristy Wells, who spoke to The Epoch Times.
The Federal Aviation Administration is also conducting an investigation, according to city officials.
The crash occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Thursday in the 2300 block of Raymer Avenue in Fullerton, located about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
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The single-engine aircraft departed from Fullerton Airport around 2 p.m., reaching an altitude of approximately 900 feet before requesting an emergency return to the airport, according to NTSB investigator Eliott Simpson.
“The tower controller then permitted the pilot to land on any available runway,” Simpson noted.
The plane reportedly executed a 180-degree left turn before crashing through the roof of a furniture manufacturing facility about 1,000 feet short of the runway.
Upon impact, the aircraft ignited, as reported by police. Authorities began evacuating nearby businesses in response to the fire.
Fullerton and Orange County firefighters managed to suppress the flames and initiated a rescue operation.
In addition to the two fatalities, 19 individuals inside the building sustained injuries, according to police. Eleven of them were transported to local hospitals, while the others received treatment on-site.
Fullerton Airport in Fullerton, Calif., on Jan. 2, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
It remains unconfirmed whether the deceased were on board the aircraft. ABC7, a local news outlet, reported that the pilot and his teenage daughter were the victims, but officials could not verify that information with The Epoch Times.
The Fullerton City Council issued a statement expressing gratitude towards the first responders.
Mayor Fred Jung commended their efforts, stating, “Your exceptional actions remind us of the strength and resilience of our community. As we come together following this tragedy, the City of Fullerton is dedicated to supporting all those impacted and collaborating with involved agencies to uncover the facts of this incident.”
According to Simpson, the aircraft operated under “visual flight rules,” which do not necessitate the filing of a flight plan.
First responders at the scene of the plane crash in Fullerton, Calif., on Jan. 2, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Investigators were not aware of the pilot’s intended destination, Simpson relayed to reporters during an afternoon briefing, and noted that weather conditions did not seem to contribute to the crash.
The aircraft was a homemade four-seater, the RV-10 model built by Van’s Aircraft in 2011.
Simpson mentioned that the RV-10 is a “widely favored airplane,” with approximately 1,100 models constructed.
A preliminary report from the NTSB is expected within two weeks, while the final report could take up to 18 months to complete, he added.
Fire officials in Fullerton indicated that the warehouse suffered significant damage as a result of the incident.
This report has contributions from City News Service.
