The city's fire chief, Douglas Jackson, said officials "presume there is going to be a very bad outcome."
The Federal Aviation Administration said the multi-engine turbo prop aircraft crashed into the homes on Charter Avenue as it approached the Tweed New Haven Airport at about 11:30 a.m. The flight originated from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and officials say the pilot made no distress calls before going down.
Officials said the second home struck by the plane was vacant. It was also fully engulfed by the time authorities arrived. When the plane went down, neighbor David Esposito said he heard a loud noise and then a thump. "No engine noise, nothing," he said.
Then Esposito said he heard a woman screaming that her children were inside the burning home. He said he ran into the upstairs of the house, where the woman believed her children were, but couldn't find them. He went back downstairs and dragged the woman out when the flames got too strong.
Ambulances and emergency crews from multiple jurisdictions were at the scene.
