Plane crashes into homes setting 15 ablaze in San Diego neighborhood with cars torched and mangled metal covering road
A PLANE has crashed in a San Diego neighborhood setting 15 homes and multiple vehicles ablaze.
California Highway Patrol has not as yet confirmed whether there are any victims after the plane crashed while landing in heavy fog.
The small plane crashed in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, near Tierrasanta, before 4 am, reported ABC 10 in San Diego.
Police and fire officials said there was a direct hit upon about 15 homes, and multiple vehicles - which were set alight in a massive fireball.
Emergency responders said they were searching for possible victims among a large debris field.
A police spokesman described the horrific impact as "a movie-style scene."
Nobody has been transported to hospital from the area as yet, as the emergency services are currently trying to work out the number of people on board the plane.
According to the California Highway Patrol's (CHP) log, the crash occurred in the 10000 block of Sample Street, near Salmon Street, west of the Admiral Baker Golf Course.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene after the crash was first reported just before 3:50 am.
Police have confirmed in a recent update that it was a private plane, about to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
Responders are still carrying out a primary and secondary search of the area, with several blocks under evacuation orders.
HUGE EXPLOSION
Residents reported being woken up by a large "boom."
One local woman told ABC 10 that when she saw a wall of orange flames outside her home, she quickly realized she had to make a speedy escape.
She left the scene with other neighbors.
ORANGE SKY
A man who also heard a large explosion said he saw the plane plummeting to the ground in Sample Street.
When he saw a "trail of orange" and the "sky light up orange" following the crash, he knew he had to immediately evacuate his family.
They safely escaped the inferno.
But their car, which was parked in front of their home, ended up being dragged all the way down Sample Street amid the plane wreckage.
His vehicle has been destroyed as a result.
The man said he was shocked by the devastating crash, as he would never have imagined anything like this happening in the residential area.
Power lines are also down, which has prompted an emergency response from energy workers.
We have jet fuel all over the place
The police spokesman said there had been dense fog when the plane was landing.
A temporary evacuation center has already been established, at Miller Elementary School on 4343 Shields Street.
Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said, “We have jet fuel all over the place.
“Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”
He also said “there is a direct hit to multiple homes” in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood.
Eddy confirmed it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed. “You could barely see in front of you,” he added.
CESSNA 550
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane was a Cessna 550 aircraft.
It confirmed that it 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.
Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now
The San Diego Police Department said its officers were also at the scene, posting on X, "SDPD is responding to a plane crash near Sculpin St and Santo Rd.
"Please avoid the area while crews work.
"More info will be shared as it becomes available."
TRAFFIC BLOCKED
Caltrans has warned motorists that, as a result of the crash, the northbound Interstate 15 off-ramp to Aero Drive has been closed.
Every southbound lane of the nearby Santo Road has also been shut down during the emergency response.
Police have warned local residents against trying to travel to the affected area, to allow emergency crews to search for possible victims.
SCHOOLS CLOSED
In a further update, San Diego Unified School District has announced that Hancock Elementary and Miller Elementary have both been closed for lessons today due to the tragedy.
Child care for both schools will be provided at Miller Elementary, it added.
The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation.
In October 2021, a twin-engine plane smashed 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.
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