A small aircraft crashed early Thursday morning in a residential neighborhood in San Diego, California, sparking a fire that spread to at least 15 homes and forced dozens of people to evacuate.
Dan Eddy, deputy chief of the Fire Department, said in a press briefing that the area was covered in aviation fuel. “Our main goal was to search every house and evacuate residents immediately,” he explained. At that time, the number of injured remained unknown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the aircraft was a Cessna 550, which went down around 3:45 a.m. (local time) near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
Later, authorities confirmed at least one fatality in the crash. “We have identified more than one fatal victim, but we’re still working to confirm how many passengers were on board,” Eddy said. He also confirmed there were no deaths or serious injuries among people on the ground.
The Cessna 550 typically seats between eight and ten passengers. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, with the NTSB expected to provide official updates.
The crash occurred in the Murphy Canyon area, a densely populated neighborhood with a mix of single-family homes and townhouses, frequently flown over by both civilian and military aircraft. According to Eddy, heavy fog made visibility extremely poor at the time of the accident.
“Several cars caught fire, there’s jet fuel everywhere, and we’re dealing with hazardous materials. We’ve requested additional resources and are coordinating with the military,” Eddy told NBC 7 San Diego.
In addition to the damage to homes, several parked vehicles were also burned. As of now, ABC News reports that no patients have been transported, but emergency crews continue to search the area for possible victims.
Local resident Christopher Moore told the Associated Press that he and his wife were jolted awake by a loud crash. “We saw smoke out the window, grabbed our two kids, and ran outside. It was terrifying,” he said.
The aircraft had departed from Wichita and was en route to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. According to its final radar reading, it was flying at an altitude of just 500 feet and did not issue any distress call. The pilot’s last radio communication indicated he was five kilometers from the airport.
The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) continues to evacuate homes on Salmon, Sample, and Sculpin Streets. Authorities are urging residents to report any smell of jet fuel or sightings of debris by calling 619-531-2000.
Santo Road remains closed at Aero Drive, and Miller Elementary School (located at 4343 Shields St.) has been designated as an evacuation site.
San Diego Unified School Police also announced that Hancock and Miller Elementary Schools will remain closed today. However, childcare services will be available at Miller Elementary.
