US music agency co-founder among victims in plane crash

Three people have died after a small plane crashed into a US neighbourhood.

Music agency Sound Talent Group said three of its employees, including its co-founder Dave Shapiro, died after being aboard the private aircraft, which went down in San Diego early on Thursday.

The total number of deaths remains unknown, but six people were on the plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The agency didn’t name the other two employees after the jet crashed into a neighbourhood of US Navy-owned housing during foggy weather.

Mr Shapiro was listed as the owner of the plane and had a pilot’s licence, according to the FAA.

“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy,” the agency said in a statement.

Several people were injured while trying to flee the crash just before 4am local time (midnight in the UK) in Murphy Canyon and others were treated for smoke inhalation.

Assistant fire department chief Dan Eddy told reporters that authorities will be investigating whether the aircraft hit a power line.

The fire chief added: “When it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street.

“You can see that every single car was burning down both sides of the street.”

The California crash occurred in the US military’s largest housing neighbourhood.

The plane appeared to strike at least one home, with around 10 houses and multiple vehicles damaged in the incident.

No one required hospital treatment, but homes and buildings in the surrounding area were evacuated as emergency crews responded.

“I can’t quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” San Diego police chief Scott Wahl said.

The police chief said more than 50 officers were on the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised.

At least 100 residents were evacuated to nearby Miller Elementary School.

Describing the scene “like something from a movie”, Mr Eddy earlier told reporters it was foggy at the time of the crash.

He said: “You could barely see in front of you.”

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

As they fled the neighbourhood with their two young children, they spotted a car engulfed in flames.

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

Police rescued three husky puppies from one of the homes, while evacuated families were spotted standing in their pyjamas in a car park a few streets away.

Many military service members live in the neighbourhood. It is also heavily populated by small civilian and military aircraft.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport and Gillespie Field are nearby.

San Diego Police Department (SDPD) earlier confirmed emergency crews were responding to the crash in the neighbourhood of Tierrasanta.

Posting on X, a SDPS spokesperson warned people to avoid the area and urged all those who smell jet fuel or find debris to alert the authorities.

Evacuations took place in Salmon Street, Sample Street and Sculpin Street. Santo Road southbound was also closed at Aero Drive.

The authorities are yet to release details about the plane, but said it was a flight coming in from the Midwest.

A flight tracking site listed it as a Cessna Citation II jet that was scheduled to arrive at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas.

Officials at the airport said it just made a fuelling stop in Wichita. The flight originated on Wednesday night in Teterboro, New Jersey, according to FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said: “The number of people on board is unknown at this time.

“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NSTB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.”