San Diego city officials say dense fog created low visibility conditions during the crash.
Authorities in San Diego, California, say several people are dead after a small civilian plane crashed into a military housing complex.
San Diego fire chief Dan Eddie on Thursday said the plane had a capacity of between 8 and 10 people, but it is not clear how many people were on board during the crash.
“There’s absolutely no word to describe what the scene looks like, but it was pretty scary to watch as jet fuel went down the street and everything was on fire at once,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.
The incident took place early on a Thursday morning, just before 4am Pacific Time (11:00 GMT) in the US.
The collision left a path to a burnt vehicle and a damaged home in San Diego’s Tierra Santa area, at the southernmost tip of California. A collapsed power line was observed close to the scene as emergency responders struggled to contain the fire.
Neighborhood residents have been evacuated and police say two nearby schools were closed that day. Authorities also asked people to avoid the area while emergency crews were in work.
San Diego police said in a social media post that “multiple deaths” were confirmed from the crash, one person remains hospitalized and two others have been treated and released.
The plane, which officials say is on the way from the Midwest, caused damage to several homes and vehicles in the neighborhood, but did not injure residents.
“It was certainly scary, but sometimes you have to drop your head and get to safety,” said Christopher Moore, who lives on one street from the crash location.
Fire Chief Eddie said the thick fog had significantly reduced visibility during the crash.
“You could barely see in front of you,” he said.
Update: Multiple deaths confirmed in a crash near Sculpin St & Santo Rd. One person in the hospital and two were treated and released. Evacuation + Road closure remains. The FAA investigated it was expected to close all day. If debris or jet fuel is found, call 619-531-2000.
– San Diego Police Station (@sandiegopd) May 22, 2025
Authorities have not yet shared details about the plane’s make and model, but flight tracking website FlightAware says Cessna Quote II Jet is scheduled to arrive at Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego at 3:47am after departing from Colonel James Jabala Airport in Wichita, Kansas.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the National Traffic Safety Commission will oversee the investigation into the incident.