A business jet crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday. The accident happened around 3:45 a.m. near Montgomery Executive Airport. Thick fog covered the area when the crash occurred.
The Cessna 550 plane crashed in San Diego's Murphy Canyon neighbourhood around 3.47am during a period of dense fog. A huge fireball erupted after the crash, setting multiple homes and cars ablaze. At least 15 properties have been affected. https://t.co/HbWClKYzeM pic.twitter.com/vV818UCBT7
— 南洋辉叔 Uncle Hui (@alexcmhwee) May 22, 2025
Fire Breaks Out, Homes Damaged
The crash caused fires in several homes and cars. Emergency crews rushed to the scene. They evacuated people from multiple blocks to ensure safety. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy told CNN, “We have jet fuel all over the place.” He added, “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”
Officials Begin Investigation
Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) started investigations. According to the FAA, the number of people on board remains unknown. They are still gathering information.
Weather Played a Role
Dan Eddy said visibility was very poor. “You could barely see in front of you,” he told CNN. The thick fog likely made conditions dangerous for flying and landing.
Flight Path and Timeline
Flight tracking site FlightAware showed the jet took off from Teterboro Airport near New York City late Wednesday. Then, it stopped in Wichita, Kansas, for about an hour. After that, it flew to San Diego.
Shortly before landing, the pilot radioed that the aircraft was three miles away from Runway 28. He did not report any problems. The plane made no emergency call.
Tower Unstaffed at Night
The control tower at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport was closed at the time. Therefore, the pilot had to use a shared radio frequency to talk with other aircraft.
Jet Details Released
According to FAA records, the jet was a Cessna 550 Citation built in 1985. A company based in Alaska owns the aircraft.