Santee Plane Crash Live Updates: UPS Confirms Employee Killed in Plane Crash

UPS confirms employee killed in plane crash

UPS confirmed Monday evening that one of its employees was killed in the Santee plane crash, saying that they are cooperating with and deferring questions to authorities working the investigation.

"We are heartbroken by the loss of our employee, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We also send our condolences for the other individuals who are involved in this incident, and their families and friends," the company said in a statement.

A fire official said earlier that at least two people were killed in the crash, but did not confirm whether the driver of a UPS truck reportedly struck by the plane was among the fatalities.

'It felt like a bomb went off,' Santee resident says

Santee resident Andrew Pelloth said that the entire house shook and pictures dropped off the walls when the plane crashed Monday afternoon.

"It felt like a bomb went off," he said.

Pelloth said that he ran to the front door after the plane struck and saw a box truck, presumed to be the one from UPS, engulfed in flames, but was not able to see the plane. He retrieved his own fire extinguisher and watched other residents of the neighborhood ripping down fences and climbing in the window of one of the houses that went up in flames.

"It was just a madhouse out here," he said.

He said that the husband and wife inside one of the engulfed houses were able to escape, commending the efforts of his neighbors in coming to their aid.

"It's amazing how the community just comes together when something like this happens," he said.

FAA investigating plane crash coming from Arizona to San Diego

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that they are investigating the Santee plane crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board.

The FAA confirmed that a 340A twin-engine Cessna plane crashed into the residential area at 12:14 local time. The agency does not know how many people were on board the aircraft and will provide an update later.

The aircraft was reportedly coming from Yuma, Arizona and heading to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego.

In 2015, there was a fatal plane crash in Santee that killed one person and injured another about four miles from Monday's crash, KSWB reported.

Firefighter confirms 'at least' 2 deaths related to crash, house fires extinguished

A firefighter confirmed that there were "at least" two fatalities related to the plane crash in Santee on Monday, and the resulting house fires had been extinguished.

The firefighter said officials had not yet confirmed who had died, the cause of the crash and the number of structures affected.

Plane crash damage extends several blocks, fire officials says

A local reporter shared a video of the aftermath of the plane crash in Santee.

KNSD's Dana Griffin said two houses were damaged and a box truck on the street is "beyond recognizable."

A fire official said San Diego Gas and Electric was on the scene to cut gas and power lines for at least ten homes. He added that the damage from the crash extends several blocks from the impact site.

Red Cross sets up evacuation point for people affected by crash

The southern California branch of the American Red Cross set up a temporary evacuation point for people affected by the plane crash in Santee.

The Cameron Family YMCA on Riverwalk Drive in Santee will act as the safe area, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Office.

Couple escapes with minor injuries after plane crashed into their home

Jim Slaff was on the crash scene and told NBC that his mother and stepfather were home when the plane crashed into their house on the corner of the street.

His mother was pulled out of a back window by a neighbor and witnesses said she had burns on her face. Her husband was in the backyard at the time.

Slaff said the couple was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. He said his mother has beaten cancer several times and her breast cancer recently came back.

"It's mind-boggling," he said. "It's a war zone, it's not even a house."

Unfortunately, Slaff said the couple's dog does not appear to have gotten out of the home.

Local media reports that UPS driver killed, no word on plane passengers

Local media reported that the plane crash in Santee killed the driver of a UPS truck when it struck the vehicle. Heather Myers, a reporter for CBS 8, tweeted that the small plane also hit two homes.

The Santee Twitter account tweeted that there are two known burn victims and possible fatalities, but it is not yet known how many people were on the plane that crashed. A fire hydrant was also struck during the crash, the city said.

Wind advisory in effect in San Diego county

A wind advisory was in effect in San Diego County before the plane crashed in Santee, the county sheriff's office said.

The advisory said the winds could blow down trees or power lines and could result in "poor visibility" in desert areas due to blowing sand and dust.

At least two houses were on fire after the plane crashed.

2 hospitalized after Santee plane crash

Two people were taken to the hospital after the plane crash in Santee Monday afternoon.

The Santee Fire Department said that it transported the patients from the scene of the crash near the 9900 block of North Magnolia Avenue, FOX 5 reported.

A local residents says the plane crash "felt like an earthquake"

A local man posted a video on Twitter of the smoke from the plane crash in Santee. He said the crash "felt like an earthquake" and that he heard sirens.

Another local resident shared an image on Twitter of where a plane crashed into a home, resulting in a fiery scene in a Santee neighborhood.