A Cessna Citation crashed into a neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday morning, killing at least two people and spraying jet fuel over homes and cars.
Dan Eddy, San Diego’s assistant fire chief, said the two people who died were on board the Cessna. He did not disclose how many people were on the aircraft when it crashed but said he did not believe there would be any survivors.
On the ground, six people were hospitalized, five for smoke inhalation and one for injuries they suffered climbing out of a window. Two other people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Authorities have not released many details on the aircraft but did say it was flying to San Diego from the Midwest.
The Associated Press reported that 15 homes were set on fire Thursday morning. Eddy told the outlet there was a “direct hit to multiple homes” and said jet fuel from the Cessna was “all over the place,” including on parked cars. He also described a “gigantic debris field” in the neighborhood, where homes are built closely together.
“I can’t quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” Police Chief Scott Wahl told the AP.
At least 100 people were evacuated from their homes and brought to a nearby elementary school.
NBC affiliate KNSD-TV in San Diego reported that the area is mostly military housing.
The FAA said the aircraft crashed near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (KMYF) around 3:45 a.m. PDT. The agency is investigating the incident, as is the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Local news outlets said there was dense fog in the city at the time of the crash.
