A massive chunk of ice tore through the roof of a Whittier home in Southern California, narrowly missing a man inside — and now a county supervisor is demanding answers.
The incident happened around 11:18 a.m. on April 10 in unincorporated Whittier, when a “large mass of ice penetrated the roof of a residential home, causing significant structural damage and posing a substantial risk of injury or loss of life,” according to a letter from Janice Hahn, Supervisor for the Fourth District of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Hahn stated, “I am bringing this incident to the attention of the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] because they need to investigate what happened and take whatever steps necessary to prevent it from happening again,” further noting that deputies and fire crews responded and “classified the situation as a suspicious circumstance.”
She emphasized, “While such incidents are rare, the potential consequences are extremely serious,” and expressed concerns regarding “aviation safety over densely populated communities in Los Angeles County.”
The resident, who typically naps on the living room couch each afternoon, chose his bedroom that day instead. The split-second decision ultimately spared his life when the ice crashed through the ceiling and smashed onto the couch.
According to the tenant, flight-tracking data indicates that an aircraft was operating directly overhead at the time of the incident.
Photos show a dirt-streaked block of ice resting inside the apartment beneath a gaping hole in the roof. The apartment complex’s property manager, Thania Manga, told FOX11 that the ice smelled extremely foul and looked foggy.
Manga described the impact as explosive, saying the entire apartment shook from the force. She has since filed a report with the FAA.
She added that, even after sealing the ice in double trash bags, the stench lingered. The evidence was turned over to officials for further investigation.
