Damage extensive after small plane crashes into San Diego neighborhood

A small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood during foggy weather early Thursday, setting about 15 homes on fire as well as vehicles, and forcing evacuations along several blocks, authorities said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna 550 went down around 3:45 a.m. near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in the Tierrasanta community, specifically in the area of Sculpin Street and Santo Road.

Authorities have not yet released information on how many people were aboard the aircraft or if there were any injuries. San Diego Police and other first responders were on scene, and residents were advised to avoid the area, KSWB-TV reported.

“We have jet fuel all over the place,” Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said during a news conference. “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”

He said “there is a direct hit to multiple homes” and described “a gigantic debris field” in a dense neighborhood.

Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang and saw smoke when they looked out the window.

They grabbed their two young children and ran out of the house. On their way out of the neighborhood, they saw a car engulfed in flames.

“It was definitely horrifying for sure, but sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety,” he said.

Eddy said it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed. “You could barely see in front of you,” he said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, with the NTSB leading the probe, officials said.

This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA 5 News for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.