Multiple people have been killed in San Diego after a private plane crashed into more than a dozen houses in foggy conditions as residents slept early Thursday, sparking huge fires and a major evacuation in the military’s largest housing neighborhood.
The Cessna 550 made a “direct hit to multiple homes” and vehicles just before 4 a.m. local time, leaving a “gigantic debris field” in the Tierrasanta neighborhood of San Diego, Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said during a news conference.
“We have jet fuel all over the place,” Eddy said, confirming that at least 15 homes had been set ablaze in the crash.
“Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now,” he said of the evacuation of several surrounding blocks.
Fire crews are still battling to put out vehicle blazes at the scene of the crash.
All of the confirmed fatalities are are passengers of the private jet, authorities told a press conference on Thursday.
It was not yet know if anyone on the ground was killed.
The Cessna 550 can carry up to 10 people, but “the number of people on board is unknown at this time,” the FAA said.
A photo shared on X showed a huge blaze, with the poster writing: “A small plane just crashed in my neighborhood??????????? What the f–k.”
Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang and then saw smoke and fires as they grabbed theor two young children and fled.
“It was definitely horrifying for sure, but sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety,” he said.
The cause of the crash has not yet been established, but it happened during intense morning fog near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
“You could barely see in front of you,” said Eddy, the assistant fire chief.
The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation.
In October 2021, a twin-engine plane plowed into a San Diego suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS delivery driver on the ground and burning homes. It was preparing to land at the airport.
