New Delhi, May 22 -- A small plane crashed into San Diego's Murphy Canyon neighbourhood, near Tierrasanta, early morning Thursday, setting about 15 homes on fire. The police department has directed the public to avoid the Sculpin St and Santo Road areas.

"SDPD is responding to a plane crash near Sculpin St and Santo Rd. Please avoid the area while crews work," the San Diego police department (SDPD) confirmed in a post on X.

The airplane - a Cessna 550 - left a "gigantic debris field" and damaged multiple homes and parked cars, ABC News quoted the San Diego assistant fire chief as saying.

"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 h...