A tragic scene unfolded early Thursday morning when a small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego, leaving a trail of destruction and killing all aboard.
The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 550—capable of carrying up to 10 people—went down just before 4 a.m. near Murphy Canyon, close to the Tierrasanta community. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy confirmed that multiple fatalities occurred, all of whom were on the plane. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of people aboard.
As the jet plummeted into the neighborhood, it ignited a devastating blaze, destroying several homes. The San Diego Police Department reported that multiple structures were engulfed in flames shortly after impact. Despite the intensity of the crash, there have been no reports of serious injuries to residents on the ground, thanks in part to the swift evacuation of nearby homes.
“We have jet fuel all over the place,” Chief Eddy noted during an early press briefing. He described the aftermath as a “gigantic debris field,” stretching across several blocks in the otherwise quiet suburban neighborhood.
The crash site lies just across the highway from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, where the jet was reportedly attempting to land. It is not yet clear what led to the crash. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full investigation.
This is not the first time the area has seen aviation tragedy. In October 2021, a small aircraft en route to the same airport crashed in Santee, northeast of San Diego, killing both the pilot and a UPS driver on the ground.
Residents described the early-morning chaos as terrifying. One family, jolted awake by the crash, fled their home barefoot as flames consumed nearby houses. Emergency responders acted quickly to contain the fire, but the damage was already extensive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information or video footage of the crash to come forward. The NTSB will examine everything from flight data to mechanical logs and air traffic control communications in the coming days.
As investigators work to determine what went wrong, the San Diego community is left grieving yet another unexpected disaster in its skies. Further updates are expected as officials confirm the identities of the victims and uncover more about the final moments of the flight.
This is a developing story.
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