At least two people have died and eight others sustained injuries after a small civilian aircraft crashed into a military housing neighborhood in San Diego, California, early Thursday morning.
The tragic incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time in the Tierrasanta area, approximately two miles east of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft was identified as a Cessna 550 that was reportedly traveling from the Midwest and approaching its final destination when it went down.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Dan Eddy confirmed that the plane crashed into a residential area managed by Liberty Military Housing, causing significant damage to multiple homes and vehicles.
"We had a plane that came through this neighborhood, taking out one home," Eddy stated during a news briefing at the scene. Emergency responders arrived to find one house and several cars engulfed in flames.
Of the eight people injured, only one required hospitalization for minor wounds. Authorities are still working to determine exactly how many people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. Police believe no residents on the ground were killed, but they have not yet confirmed that all residents have been accounted for.
As a precautionary measure, approximately 100 residents were evacuated from the neighborhood to facilitate safety and emergency response operations.
San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "The damage behind us is incredibly significant, was life-threatening, and thank God nobody on the ground was killed."
Naval Base San Diego Commanding Officer, Captain Bob Heely, assured that temporary housing arrangements are being made for all affected military families. "We are actively working with Liberty Military Housing and the Red Cross to ensure displaced families have somewhere to go," Heely said.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
