Early Morning Plane Crash Rocks San Diego Military Housing Community
Cessna jet crashes into Murphy Canyon neighborhood, igniting fires and prompting federal investigation; no serious injuries reported among residents
A private jet crashed into a Navy housing complex in San Diego early Thursday morning, igniting multiple fires and damaging at least 15 homes in the densely populated Murphy Canyon neighborhood. The aircraft, a Cessna 550 Citation II, went down just before 4 a.m., startling residents and triggering a massive emergency response.
According to the San Diego Police Department, the crash occurred near Sculpin Street and Santo Road, in the Tierrasanta area. The plane was en route to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport from the Midwest and was registered to a private company based in Alaska.
Emergency crews from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, Cal Fire, San Diego Police, and military police rushed to the scene to contain fires sparked by spilled jet fuel and downed power lines. The crash damaged homes and vehicles, most belonging to military families.
“We have jet fuel all over the place,” said Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy during a press briefing. “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”
Chief Eddy described the scene as a “gigantic debris field” and confirmed that residents were evacuated swiftly. A temporary evacuation center has been set up at Miller Elementary School, located at 4343 Shields Street, to assist those displaced by the crash.
While fires have since been extinguished, authorities continue to assess the damage. Chief Eddy reported that no serious injuries were sustained by residents, though some minor injuries were noted.
“All the fatalities so far look to be that they’re from the plane,” he said. “We’re working with the FAA right now to find out how many actual people were registered on that plane.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation. The FAA released a statement Thursday morning:
“A Cessna 550 crashed near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in California, around 3:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 22. The number of people on board is unknown at this time. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.”
Early reports indicate that foggy conditions may have contributed to the crash, with visibility in the area reportedly under two miles at the time.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria expressed condolences to the families of those aboard the plane and commended first responders for their swift action:
“On behalf of our city, I extend my condolences to the families and loved ones of those aboard the plane,” Gloria said.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, San Diego Police Department, Cal Fire and military police for their swift, coordinated response that quickly evacuated residents, extinguished fires, and secured the area to ensure this tragedy was not compounded.”
He added that San Diego will work closely with the Navy to assist affected families and help them recover from the disaster.
As the FAA and NTSB continue their investigation, officials are urging residents to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to secure the crash site and gather critical information.
No further details on the number or identities of those aboard the aircraft have been released at this time.