Multiple Dead in San Diego Plane Crash That Ignited Homes/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A private jet crashed into a residential San Diego neighborhood early Thursday, killing multiple people on board and igniting fires across several homes and vehicles. Authorities are investigating whether the plane struck power lines before crashing.
San Diego Plane Crash Leaves Several Dead: Quick Looks
- A Cessna Citation II jet crashed at 3:45 a.m. near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
- Multiple people on board were killed; officials have not released exact numbers.
- No injuries were reported on the ground despite widespread destruction.
- About 15 homes and numerous vehicles were set on fire by jet fuel.
- Thick fog limited visibility at the time of the crash, hampering early rescue efforts.
- San Diego authorities are probing whether the plane hit a power line.
- The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations.
- The flight originated in Wichita, Kansas, and was scheduled to land in San Diego.
- Residents in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood were evacuated as a precaution.
- The crash area includes military housing and is near several local airports.
Deep Look: Multiple Killed as Private Jet Crashes Into San Diego Neighborhood
A pre-dawn plane crash turned a quiet San Diego neighborhood into a fiery disaster zone on Thursday, killing multiple people aboard a private aircraft and igniting homes and cars in its path.
Authorities say a Cessna Citation II business jet crashed just before 4 a.m. in the densely packed Murphy Canyon neighborhood near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. San Diego Fire Department Assistant Chief Dan Eddy confirmed that several passengers were killed in the fiery crash, but no one on the ground was injured.
Eddy described the aftermath as a “gigantic debris field,” with nearly 15 homes impacted and cars on both sides of the street engulfed in flames. “We have jet fuel all over the place,” he said during a morning news conference. “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”
Foggy weather played a significant role in the chaos, according to officials. “You could barely see in front of you,” Eddy added, noting that poor visibility may have contributed to the aircraft’s fatal descent. Investigators are also examining whether the jet may have struck power lines before impact.
The FAA identified the downed aircraft as a Cessna 550, which typically carries between six and eight passengers. The jet was on approach to San Diego from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas, according to FlightAware tracking data.
On the ground, the wreckage was dramatic. One home’s roof had collapsed, cars were completely charred, and debris was scattered across the street. A plume of black smoke could be seen for blocks as firefighters worked to contain lingering blazes.
Local resident Christopher Moore, who lives just a street away, described the terrifying moment he and his wife were awakened by a loud explosion.
“It was definitely horrifying for sure,” Moore said. “We grabbed the kids and ran.” The family witnessed a burning car as they fled the neighborhood.
Authorities rescued three husky puppies from one of the affected homes, carting them to safety in a wagon as emergency crews cleared the area. Dozens of residents, including children in pajamas, gathered at a nearby parking lot, anxiously awaiting updates.
The neighborhood is home to many military families due to its proximity to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and two civilian airports—Montgomery-Gibbs and Gillespie Field—raising further concerns about air traffic density in the area.
This tragedy marks the third major crash involving aircraft in the San Diego area in recent years. In 2021, a twin-engine plane crashed in Santee, killing two people and destroying several homes. In 2008, a Marine fighter jet crashed into a home in University City, killing four people.
While the exact number of fatalities and the identities of the victims remain unconfirmed, the FAA and NTSB are expected to lead a comprehensive investigation. Authorities have urged local residents to avoid the crash area as cleanup and recovery efforts continue.
As San Diego grieves another aviation tragedy, community members are left shaken—but grateful that the damage on the ground, while severe, did not result in further loss of life.
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