Fire fighters and rescue teams are at the scene of the downed Asiana Airlines Flight 214, which had taken off from South Korea's capital, Seoul.
The cause of the crash is unclear.
Early indications suggest the plane came in too short and hit the seawall at the airport.
Eight adults and two children who suffered critical injuries are being treated at San Francisco General Hospital, hospital spokesperson Rachael Kagan said.
A fireball erupted after the Boeing 777 airliner hit the runway hard around 11:30 a.m., rocked back and forth, spun around, sheered off the plane's tail. Scores of passengers and crew climbed out -- some jumping, others sliding down evacuation chutes as flames and smoke billowed from the aircraft's windows.
Two people were found dead outside the plane, according to San Francisco fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White. "My understanding is thatthey were found on the runway," she said.
Both were Chinese passport holders, the South Korean transport ministry said.
Somehow, 305 others survived.
Said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee: "This could have been much worse."
After approaching the airport across San Francisco Bay, the plane appeared to strike the edge of the approach area of the runway. The tail came off and the aircraft left a trail of debris before coming to rest beside the runway.
One survivor said the pilot seemed to be trying to gain height just before the aircraft struck the runway. There was no immediate indication of the cause of the crash and federal officials were traveling from Washington to investigate.
Pictures taken by survivors immediately after the crash showed passengers emerging from the wrecked plane and hurrying away. TV footage later showed the fuselage of the Boeing 777 blackened by fire and the interior apparently gutted.
FAA spokesman says it is unclear how many people were on board the flight from Seoul; TV images show extensive fire damage.
"It was coming in very nicely," he told CNN. But as it landed he witnessed a larger plume of smoke from the landing gear than is usually seen. After a "pop" he saw a brief fire take hold at which point the plane's tail became detached. "[The plane] lifted and began to cartwheel," Castorani added. Footage of the wreckage confirmed that the tail had come off. The main body of the plane showed extensive fire damage.
Asiana is a South Korean airline, second in size to national carrier Korean Air. It has recently tried to expand its presence in the United States; it has also joined the oneWorld alliance, which is anchored by American Airlines and British Airways. The 777-200 is a long-range plane from Boeing. The twin-engine aircraft is one of the world's most popular long-distance planes and is often used for intercontinental flights of 12 hours or more. The airline's website says its 777s can carry between 246 to 300 passengers.
FAA spokesman says it is unclear how many people were on board the flight from Seoul; TV images show extensive fire damage.
"It was coming in very nicely," he told CNN. But as it landed he witnessed a larger plume of smoke from the landing gear than is usually seen. After a "pop" he saw a brief fire take hold at which point the plane's tail became detached. "[The plane] lifted and began to cartwheel," Castorani added. Footage of the wreckage confirmed that the tail had come off. The main body of the plane showed extensive fire damage.
Asiana is a South Korean airline, second in size to national carrier Korean Air. It has recently tried to expand its presence in the United States; it has also joined the oneWorld alliance, which is anchored by American Airlines and British Airways. The 777-200 is a long-range plane from Boeing. The twin-engine aircraft is one of the world's most popular long-distance planes and is often used for intercontinental flights of 12 hours or more. The airline's website says its 777s can carry between 246 to 300 passengers.
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