---
title: "Small Plane Crashes on Interstate 405 in Southern California, Explodes into Fireball"
description: "Both occupants were transported to a nearby trauma center."
date: "2017-06-30"
modified: "2017-06-30"
authors:
  - name: "Max Goldberg"
    job_title: "Associate Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/max-goldberg"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/12059/small-plane-crashes-on-interstate-405-in-southern-california-explodes-into-fireball"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "airplane"
  - "Aviation"
  - "Cessna"
  - "Plane Crash"
---

# Small Plane Crashes on Interstate 405 in Southern California, Explodes into Fireball

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/06/cessna-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Air travel is the safest form of transportation, but accidents are bound to happen some time. Unfortunately that was the case for a couple in their 60's this morning when their [Cessna 310 twin-engine plane](<https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/06/30/plane-crash-irvine-405/>) didn't make it to the runway at John Wayne Airport. The small airplane took off from John Wayne Airport shortly before 9:30am and the pilot declared an emergency landing almost immediately after takeoff. As seen in a twitter video below, the plane came to a flaming crash when it landed on its fuel take, causing it to rupture.

Miraculously, the couple were pulled from the wreckage by an off-duty Avalon, CA firefighter. According to [Orange County](<https://www.thedrive.com/porsche/9122/gmg-racing-parts-stolen-before-long-beach-grand-prix>) Fire Authority Captain Larry Kurtz, both victims were taken to a nearby trauma center for treatment.

Crash landing onto a highway is not uncommon as it is the closest thing to a runway a pilot can get without actually using a runway. Unfortunately, there are usually a lot of [obstacles](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/9918/dash-cam-captures-airplane-crash-in-front-of-traffic-in-washington-state>) that can rupture a the fuel tank causing a streak of flames across the highway. At this time, the need for an emergency landing is unclear but we are sure more information will unfold after the FAA investigation.

https://twitter.com/_/status/880846455417778178

## Author
Before working at *The Drive*, Max Goldberg raced the streets of Westchester in an ambulance as a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He has boundless enthusiasm.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/maxems>)