Cessna Plane Crash in San Diego Hits Homes, Kills Passengers
A small Cessna private plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday morning, killing people on board and damaging several homes. The deadly crash happened in Murphy Canyon, a military housing area near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The aircraft, a Cessna Citation II, had departed from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. It made a refueling stop in Wichita, Kansas, before continuing toward San Diego. As the plane neared the airport at around 3:45 a.m., dense fog covered the area. Weather reports showed visibility had dropped to under half a mile, making landing conditions difficult.
Instead of reaching the runway, the Cessna crashed into a row of homes. It struck at least one house before exploding on impact. Jet fuel spilled across the street, causing multiple vehicles and homes to catch fire within seconds.
Emergency crews arrived within minutes. Firefighters quickly brought the fires under control, while hazmat teams began cleaning up fuel and debris. Authorities evacuated more than 100 people from the area. Officials also shut down two local schools—Hancock and Miller Elementary—for safety reasons.
Here’s what we know about the San Diego plane crash:
- Type of aircraft: Cessna Citation II (Model 550), a private jet commonly used for business travel
- Flight path: From Teterboro, NJ, then refueling in Wichita, KS, then to the final destination, San Diego
- Time of crash: 3:45 a.m. PDT, Thursday, May 22
- Weather conditions: Fog, cloud ceiling under 500 feet, visibility less than 0.5 miles
- Crash damage: 10–15 homes hit or burned, several cars destroyed
- Fatalities: All deaths occurred aboard the jet; no ground casualties reported
- Evacuations: Over 100 people were removed from the area
- School closures: Two elementary schools shut down temporarily
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the aftermath. “Jet fuel was flowing down the street. Houses and cars were on fire all at once,” he said. “It was a hard thing to watch.”
Resident Christopher Moore was in bed when the explosion happened. “I looked out the window and saw a bright flash,” he said. “Then I knew something was very wrong.”
Fire-Rescue officials confirmed that everyone who died had been aboard the Cessna jet. The number of passengers has not been officially confirmed, but early reports suggest there was more than one person on the flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the crash investigation. They will review flight data, pilot communications, weather conditions, and potential contact with structures or power lines before impact.
Right now, the Murphy Canyon neighborhood remains blocked off. Cleanup crews are still working, and many families are temporarily displaced. A full investigation report is expected in the coming weeks.
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