San Diego Plane Crash: Business Jet Slams Into Neighborhood, Kills at Least 2

The San Diego plane crash early Thursday left a military neighborhood in flames and at least two people dead after a private jet slammed into several homes. The Cessna 550 Citation crashed just before dawn near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, setting fire to homes, cars, and forcing families to evacuate in the foggy darkness.

A Quiet Morning Turned Into Chaos

Authorities say the Cessna 550 Citation went down near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. It tore through homes, ignited several cars, and flooded the streets with jet fuel.

“You could barely see anything,” said San Diego Fire Assistant Chief Dan Eddy. “Jet fuel was running down the street. Everything was burning.”

Emergency crews responded quickly, but the impact destroyed multiple homes and caused fires along the block. Police and firefighters cleared nearby houses to protect residents as flames spread through the neighborhood.

No Survivors Reported on the Jet

The jet likely carried up to ten people, but officials have not confirmed the exact number onboard. So far, all known victims were on the plane. No ground fatalities have been reported, though dozens of residents had to flee in the middle of the night.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation.

Where the Plane Came From

Flight tracking data shows the plane took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, stopped in Wichita, Kansas, and continued on to San Diego. The pilot contacted air traffic frequency about three miles from the runway but didn’t report any issues.

The airport’s control tower was closed overnight, so the pilot was communicating with other aircraft using a shared radio frequency. No emergency call was made before the crash.

Weather May Have Played a Role

At the time of the crash, San Diego was experiencing heavy fog and low visibility, with cloud ceilings down to about 500 feet. “You could barely see in front of you,” Eddy said.

Military Families Caught in the Disaster

The crash happened in a military housing complex, home to hundreds of service members and their families. Captain Robert Heely from Naval Base San Diego confirmed the community’s connection to the military.

“We have a lot of military families affected by this,” Heely said. “Our hearts go out to the families of those on board.”

FAA records show the aircraft was built in 1985 and registered to a company in Alaska.

Do you think planes should be allowed to fly this close to residential neighborhoods? Let us know in the comments.

More…

• https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cj42ew5zy7et
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/05/22/plane-crash-san-diego/83788083007
• https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/22/us/san-diego-plane-crash