A small plane has crashed in a San Diego neighbourhood in the early hours of Thursday morning, triggering a significant emergency response.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene in the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood near Tierrasanta.
It it not known how many people were aboard the plane when it crashed.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft was a Cessna 550, but details about passengers remain unclear.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene in the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood near Tierrasanta
NBC
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Assistant Chief Dan Eddy indicated that the Cessna was likely en route to Montgomery Field when it crashed for reasons that remain unknown.
Emergency services were alerted to the crash just before 3.50am.
The crash set multiple cars and homes ablaze, with authorities reporting "a direct hit to multiple homes" in the neighbourhood.
The severity of the situation prompted an evacuation of part of the area due to fuel concerns.
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A small plane has crashed in a San Diego neighbourhood in the early hours of Thursday morning, triggering a significant emergency responseNBC/ "We have jet fuel all over the place," Assistant Fire Department Chief Eddy said during a news conference.
"Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now."
Officials have not yet confirmed whether weather conditions played a role in the crash, though San Diego Fire-Rescue Department acknowledged the foggy conditions in the area at the time of the incident.
The Murphy Canyon neighbourhood, which houses military families according to NBC San Diego, saw significant damage from the direct impact.
One witness, a Marine Corps sergeant who works in aviation, told NBC 7 that the pilot carried out an "emergency landing" in the middle of the street, allegedly avoiding crashing into any homes.
The Murphy Canyon neighbourhood, which houses military families according to NBC San Diego, saw significant damage from the direct impact
NBC
Multiple agencies, including firefighters, military police, California Highway Patrol, San Diego police and ambulance services, remain at the scene.
A traffic warning has been issued for nearby Interstate 15.
Drivers are being diverted and asked to avoid the area.
