Yes, planes have crashed into residential neighborhoods many times in aviation history, though it is statistically very rare. One of the most significant recent examples occurred in May 2020, when Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 crashed into a densely populated neighborhood in Karachi, destroying several homes and killing 97 people on board (plus one person on the ground). Another famous historical case is the 1992 El Al Flight 1862 crash, where a cargo 747 struck an apartment complex in Amsterdam, resulting in 43 fatalities. In the United States, American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Queens, New York in November 2001, killing all 260 on board and 5 people on the ground. These incidents usually happen during the takeoff or landing phases when planes are at low altitudes near urban airports. While modern "Runway Protection Zones" and strict zoning laws around airports aim to minimize these risks, mechanical failure or pilot error can occasionally result in a plane coming down outside the airport perimeter. These "ground casualties" are a major focus of aviation safety and urban planning worldwide.