Two dead after plane crashes into San Diego neighbourhood 'setting 15 homes on fire'

By Henry Moore

Two people have died after a plane crashed into a San Diego neighbourhood early Thursday morning, setting at least 15 homes on fire.

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The deaths are believed to be those on board the small aircraft, which can hold between eight and ten people, authorities said.

Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said the crash has left jet fuel spread across the area.

During a news conference, he said: “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”

He added: "When it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street.

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"You can see that every single car was burning down both sides of the street."

He added “there is a direct hit to multiple homes” in the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood.

Eddy said it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed. “You could barely see in front of you,” he said.

"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," San Diego police chief Scott Wahl said in the wake of the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the Cessna 550 aircraft crashed near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.

“The number of people on board is unknown at this time,” the FAA said in a statement. The plane can carry six to eight people.

San Diego Police Department issued an update on X advising local residents to call emergency services if they smell jet fuel or find debris.