A small aircraft crashed into a residential neighbourhood in San Diego, California, in the early hours of Thursday morning, causing significant damage to homes and vehicles, authorities confirmed.
The San Diego Police Department reported that the crash occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time, when a Cessna 550 plummeted into a street near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
TV footage from the scene showed rows of burnt vehicles reduced to charred shells, with at least one house suffering major structural damage. Streets were littered with debris from the impact.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the make and model of the aircraft and said further investigation is ongoing.
In a public advisory, San Diego police said they were “responding to a plane crash” and had evacuated three streets in the area. Residents were warned to avoid the crash site and urged to report any discovery of debris or the smell of jet fuel to emergency services.
According to ABC News, the assistant fire chief in San Diego described the aftermath as a “gigantic debris field”, with multiple homes and parked vehicles affected by the impact and resulting fires.
There was no immediate confirmation of casualties as of the time of reporting.
