Three Dead; Military Jet Crashes into House in University City
Reported by: San Diego 6 News Team
Last Update: 2:59 pm
A military jet crashed into a residential area of University City Monday as the fighter jet returned to MCAS Miramar to land.)
Sources tell San Diego 6 News three people on the ground died Monday when a military jet crashed in a University City-area neighborhood after the pilot ejected from the aircraft, causing an intense fire that engulfed several homes.
The F/A-18D Hornet was heading to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar shortly before noon when it plunged to the ground near Cather Avenue and Huggins Street, about a mile west of the military base, according to police and the Federal Aviation Administration. The jet was reportedly flying from the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln when one of the two engines went out on the aircraft. The pilot was attempting to land at Miramar when the crash happened.
The jet crashed into a residential area of University City near Cather Avenue and Huggins Street shortly before noon.
Mayor Jerry Sanders confirmed two deaths with two people missing during a news briefing at 2:45 p.m. Four people were believed to be in one of the destroyed homes, a grandmother, a mother and two children.
Two houses were destroyed with others damaged by the fiery crash.
Nearby University City High School was placed on lockdown as a precaution to protect students and staff from smoke and fumes. The smoke plume from the crash could be seen over a wide area of San Diego County. (more at link)
http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1e261b8c-260e-46de-9da0-cb1635075720&rss=tick
