A congested tragedy unfolded in Fullerton, California, when a Huntington Beach pilot and his teenage daughter were identified as victims of a recent plane crash. The victims, Pascal Reid and his 16-year-old daughter Kelly Reid, were pronounced dead following the said incident. Both were residents of Huntington Beach, and Kelly was a junior of Huntington Beach High School and a known athlete participating in varsity soccer, lacrosse and flag football.
The unfortunate event took place last Thursday, January 2, when a Vans RV-10 aircraft, piloted by Pascal Reid, crashed into a furniture manufacturing warehouse, shortly after taking off from the Fullerton Municipal Airport. The aircraft was a single-engine home-built kit model with a seating capacity of up to four people. The crash also resulted in a fire outbreak within the building.
There were 19 employees present inside the Michael Nicholas Designs warehouse at the time of the crash. The aftermath saw a series of injuries that ranged from burns to physical damages with 11 individuals requiring hospital treatment while 8 were treated and immediately released at the scene.
In an attempt to understand the leading cause that resulted in the plane losing altitude, aviation officials are reportedly going through recordings between Pascal and air traffic control. Preliminary reports suggest an emergency necessitating an immediate return to the airport was underway.
Firefighters were prompt on the scene, extinguishing the blaze while nearby buildings were evacuated to maintain safety. Post-fire inspections led to red-tagging of the warehouse, indicating severe structural damage or hazard risk.
The investigation into this crash is ongoing. Meanwhile, the father and daughters tragic loss was mourned by loved ones and friends, with the Huntington Beach High Schools flag football team sharing heartfelt acknowledgements of young Kellys influence and warmth as a caring friend, teammate, and remarkable person.
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