Los Angeles: A small plane crash in a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday morning resulted in at least two fatalities and injuries to eight others, authorities have reported. The accident happened around 3:45 a.m. in a military housing area in the Tierrasanta district, roughly over two miles east of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
While police believe no one on the ground was killed, they could not confirm this immediately. The San Diego Police Department stated that the crash caused damage to approximately ten buildings in the area. The aircraft involved was identified as a Cessna jet that collided with the Murphy Canyon neighborhood just before 4 a.m., sparking fires in multiple homes and vehicles.
Assistant Fire-Chief Dan Eddy explained that jet fuel was spread across the scene, prompting hazmat teams to respond and request additional resources. All reported fatalities were on the plane, which can carry up to ten people, although the exact number of on-board passengers remains unknown. About 100 residents were evacuated, with the affected residences being part of military housing managed by Liberty Military Housing.
Officials are working with military families displaced by the crash and are coordinating with the Red Cross to provide temporary accommodations. San Diego City Council member Raul Campillo highlighted the severity of the destruction and expressed relief that no one on the ground was killed.
The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.