A small plane burst into flames after crashing at an airport, killing two people and prompting an immediate emergency response.
The crash happened Monday evening when a Cessna aircraft came down on a runway at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Emergency crews were alerted shortly after 5 p.m. and found the aircraft engulfed in flames. Both people aboard the plane were killed.
Firefighters quickly moved in to contain the blaze, while crews also dealt with a fuel leak caused by the crash. About 30 members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded to the scene as officials worked to secure the area.
The fire was extinguished later that evening, but the aircraft was left heavily damaged. Investigators could not immediately determine whether the plane was taking off or landing when the crash occurred. That question is now part of the federal investigation into the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily closed the airport while emergency crews responded and investigators prepared to examine the wreckage. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into what caused the crash.
Witnesses at the airport described a frightening scene as thick black smoke rose from the crash site. People nearby rushed to help, but the damage to the aircraft was too severe for rescuers to reach the victims.
Authorities have not released the identities of the two people who died. They also have not announced a cause for the crash, and investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight records and other evidence as they work to determine what happened in the moments before impact.