Mysterious Ice Chunk Falls Through Roof of Whittier ADU: What Happened?
Mysterious Ice Chunk Falls Through Whittier Home’s Roof
A significant piece of what appeared to be dirty ice crashed through the roof of a backyard dwelling in Whittier on Friday morning, startling a tenant and leaving both police and the homeowner uncertain about its origin.
Homeowner Thania Magana received a frantic call from her tenant, Yuder Grau, around 11:18 a.m., who exclaimed, "He’s like, Thania, there was an explosion." Upon her arrival at the accessory dwelling unit, Magana discovered debris scattered throughout the living area and a large hole in the roof.
“It came through here and shattered, but there was a big piece right on the couch and then one on the table. And a couple of pieces here,” Magana recounted. As Grau began cleaning up the debris, he noticed an unpleasant smell emanating from the ice chunks. “We just said let’s stuff it in a bag, put it in the freezer and see what it is,” Magana added.
To share her strange discovery, Magana later posted a photo in a local Facebook group, prompting various theories. “Some people were like, ‘Oh Artemis II is gonna land today, if that has anything to do with it?’” she remarked, though she suggested a more plausible explanation might involve aircraft flying overhead.
Magana noted, “If you look outside, every five minutes or so, we get a plane or two, either going to Long Beach or going to LAX.” NBC4 meteorologist David Biggar, a licensed private pilot, explained that falling debris from aircraft can occasionally be attributed to frozen waste or water systems. “Depending on what it is, it could potentially be gray water,” he said, referring to waste from aircraft galleys or lavatories.
Biggar also mentioned that aircraft systems are designed to prevent ice formation, though potential failures of these heaters can lead to moisture accumulating and freezing at high altitudes, causing pieces to break off. He explained, “There can also be something like maybe a leaky valve or leaky seal somewhere,” contributing to the unusual incident.
After reviewing flight activity around the time of the occurrence, Magana identified three planes that had passed overhead—one from Southwest Airlines and two from Delta Air Lines. Both airlines informed NBC4 that there were no reports of irregularities or maintenance issues on those flights.
Reflecting on the incident, Magana expressed relief that Grau had chosen to take a mid-morning nap in his bedroom rather than on the couch where he had been resting minutes earlier. “I keep replaying it and just thinking of the what if,” she said. “The first thing that comes to mind is that he probably wouldn’t be here with us.”
After the event, firefighters inspected the home’s structure. With rain predicted, Magana plans to cover the damaged roof with a tarp. The Federal Aviation Administration stated it had yet to receive a report regarding the incident but affirmed it would investigate all such claims. NASA has not responded to inquiries about the occurrence. Biggar also dismissed the idea that the debris could have been hail.
