Several people aboard a private plane died early Thursday, May 22, when it crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood of San Diego, California, officials confirmed.
During a news conference, Assistant San Diego Fire Chief Dan Eddy said investigators are working to determine whether the aircraft struck a power line before crashing. Fortunately, no injuries were reported on the ground.
The aircraft, believed to have the capacity to carry eight to ten people, burst into flames upon impact, igniting vehicles lining both sides of the street.
“When it hit the street, the jet fuel flowed down and engulfed every single car on both sides,” Eddy said. “Every car was burning.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of passengers or released the identity of the plane. However, officials said the jet was inbound from the Midwest. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, a Cessna Citation II was scheduled to land at San Diego’s Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport at 3:47 am after departing from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas.
