SAN DIEGO — Multiple people were killed when a small plane crashed into a military housing community of San Diego early this morning, damaging around 10 homes, several vehicles and displacing about 100 people.
The crash occurred around 3:45 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Sample and Salmon streets in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, near Tierrasanta, just west of the Admiral Baker Golf Course.
Police said at least two people are confirmed dead, but their identities have not yet been confirmed. While the Cessna 550 holds around 10 people, the Federal Aviation Administration was still working to confirm how many were aboard the plane.
Eight people were reported injured, though fire department officials described most of those injuries as minor.
The crash destroyed one home and sparked fires at several others, with flames spreading to cars and other debris in the neighborhood. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Assistant Chief Dan Eddy said all of the homes that were damaged were occupied when the impact occurred.
As of 7:45 a.m., most of the fires had been extinguished except for a vehicle fire that refused to go out, fire officials said.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said more than 50 officers were able to get to the crash site in minutes and then started evacuating the area and homes.
“With the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” Wahl said.
According to Flightaware.com, the Cessna, which was registered out of Alaska, left New Jersey on Wednesday, then stopped over in Wichita, Kan., to refuel before departing for San Diego.
Eddy said it was foggy at the time the private plane crashed. “You could barely see in front of you,” he said.
The area surrounding the crash site was expected to be temporarily closed for the day as the FAA investigates, police said.
The northbound Interstate 15 off-ramp to Aero Drive was temporarily shut down. All southbound lanes near Santo Road were also temporarily closed, according to Caltrans.
A temporary evacuation center was set up at 4343 Shields St. at Miller Elementary School. Hancock and Miller elementary schools were closed on Thursday. Childcare for both schools was expected to be provided at Miller Elementary.
Evacuations were in effect for Salmon, Sample and Sculpin streets, according to police.
Officials said some 130 personnel were assigned to the fire, including 13 engines, five trucks and four medical supervisors. The Red Cross and San Diego Humane Society assisted in the effort, with Humane Society officials saying they took in at least a dozen animals at their San Diego campus. Some of the animals required decontamination after jet fuel was found on their bodies.
It was unclear what prompted the plane crash, but crews were expected to remain on scene to sweep the area and check for hot spots and further debris.
Authorities advised anyone who smells jet fuel or finds debris near the scene of the crash site to call 619-531-2000. Those who had to leave their animals behind were advised to call the San Diego Humane Society emergency response team at 619-299-7012 or visit sdhumane.org/lost.
In a statement, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said, “We have had an extraordinary response effort here led by San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and San Diego Police Department. What you see is a collaborative effort with county, state and federal partners as well as our partners in the community. Our city will be supporting these families who were impacted here. They are a part of the military community that makes up our city. Proud partners of our community. And we will support them for as long as it takes to make sure we get back to good here in Tierrasanta.”
Gloria continued, “On behalf of our city, I extend my condolences to the families and loved ones of those aboard the plane. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, San Diego Police Department, CalFire and military police for their swift, coordinated response that quickly evacuated residents, extinguished fires and secured the area to ensure this tragedy was not compounded. San Diego will support the Navy as they assist the residents affected by this tragedy,” Gloria added.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated from its original version.
