Investigators look through the site where a small plane crashed into San Diego, California, residential street on May 22, 2025. The Federal Aviation Authority said a Cessna 550 crashed at around 3:45 am local time. The neighborhood is close to the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. The crash left a "gigantic debris field" and damaged some 15 homes and parked cars, ABC News quoted the San Diego assistant fire chief as saying. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker / AFP) (Photo by SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP via Getty Images)
San Diego, California – A private jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday morning, killing multiple people aboard and igniting a fiery scene that damaged at least 15 homes and several vehicles.
The Cessna 550 aircraft went down around 3:45 a.m. in the Murphy Canyon area near Sculpin Street and Santo Road, just north of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, where it was scheduled to land. The crash occurred in thick fog, which authorities say significantly hampered visibility.
“There was jet fuel all over the place,” said Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy. “When it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down, it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street. You can see that every single car was burning down both sides.”
Despite the devastation, officials said no residents were seriously injured, and no one on the ground required hospitalization. All fatalities occurred aboard the aircraft, though officials have not yet confirmed how many people were on board. The plane can carry up to eight passengers.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, evacuating several blocks in the military housing community and working to contain the fires that spread to multiple homes and cars. By mid-morning, the fires were under control, and search efforts through the damaged properties were underway.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed a Cessna Citation II jet departing from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas, and scheduled to land in San Diego at 3:47 a.m.
Witnesses described the moment of the crash as terrifying. Christopher Moore, who lives nearby, said he and his wife woke to a loud bang and ran outside with their two children. “It was definitely horrifying for sure,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash. Officials have not yet identified the passengers or confirmed the cause of the crash, but the thick fog at the time is expected to be a key factor in the probe.
Thursday’s crash adds to a troubling pattern: The NTSB has logged 295 aviation accidents in 2025 so far, with 57 of them fatal, raising public concern over aviation safety as both small aircraft and commercial flights are scrutinized.
