San Diego, CA – Authorities have confirmed multiple fatalities following the crash of a private plane into a residential neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday morning. The impact ignited several fires and prompted a significant emergency response.
Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy stated during a news conference that investigators will be examining whether the aircraft struck a power line prior to the crash. He confirmed that no injuries were reported on the ground.
San Diego police and fire officials indicated that the plane had the capacity to carry eight to ten individuals; however, the exact number of people on board at the time of the crash remains unknown. Assistant Fire Chief Eddy described the destructive aftermath, noting that “when it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street… You can see that every single car was burning down both sides of the street.”
San Diego officials have not yet released specific details about the aircraft, but confirmed that it was a flight originating from the Midwest. Flight tracking data from Flight Aware identifies a Cessna Citation II jet scheduled to arrive at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego at 3:47 a.m. local time, having departed from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA stated that the number of people on board is currently unknown and that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the incident. The Cessna 550 aircraft involved in the crash can typically carry six to eight passengers.
Assistant Fire Chief Eddy described the scene as a “gigantic debris field” with a “direct hit to multiple homes” in the densely populated area known for its single-family residences, townhomes, and canyon views. Many military service members reside in this neighborhood, which is also located near several aviation facilities, including Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, and Gillespie Field.
Eyewitness Christopher Moore, who lives a street away from the crash site, reported being awakened by a loud explosion and observing smoke. He and his wife evacuated their two young children, witnessing a car engulfed in flames as they fled the neighborhood.
Emergency responders, including police, fire personnel, and military police, were on the scene. Police were seen rescuing three husky puppies from one of the affected homes. Residents, including families with young children, gathered in nearby parking lots awaiting information about when they could safely return to their residences.
Assistant Fire Chief Eddy noted the presence of heavy fog at the time of the crash, stating, “You could barely see in front of you.”
This incident evokes memories of past aviation accidents in the San Diego area, including a 2021 crash where a twin-engine plane struck a suburb, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and a UPS driver, and a 2008 incident where a Marine Corps fighter jet crashed into a house, killing four occupants.
The NTSB will conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of this latest tragic event.
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