In brief
At least two individuals have lost their lives following a small plane crash into a residential area in San Diego on Thursday morning, prompting significant local evacuations and damage to surrounding properties.
Several houses were impacted, with one completely destroyed and others sustaining damage, as the Cessna 550 aircraft crashed on a residential street in Murphy Canyon. Eight individuals on the ground received minor injuries, while one person was transported to a hospital for treatment, according to officials. Approximately 100 residents were evacuated from the vicinity due to safety concerns. Local authorities have yet to disclose the identities of the deceased or the aircraft's passengers. Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy described the devastating scene, stating, "There’s plane everywhere," and underscoring the widespread destruction resulting from the crash's impact. Preliminary assessments indicate a direct hit to multiple homes, but fortunately, no serious injuries were reported among the residents. Witness accounts detail the chaotic moments following the crash. Resident Christopher Moore recounted being awakened by a loud explosion and quickly evacuated with his family as flames engulfed nearby vehicles. Another local, a marine, spoke of hearing a "strange whistling wheezing noise" before the crash shook his home. The aircraft was reportedly on its way to Montgomery Field, an airport situated about six miles north of downtown San Diego when the incident occurred. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of this tragic accident.
