In a scene that was compared to a disaster movie, a small plane crashed into a military neighborhood, igniting fires and leaving jet fuel “all over the place.”
Watch the video below.
The Cessna 550 aircraft crashed in foggy conditions around 3:45 a.m., impacting multiple homes in the Murphy Canyon area where many military families reside.
The incident occurred near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport under extremely limited visibility conditions.
The aircraft came down in the residential area, spreading aviation fuel across several blocks and causing multiple fires, affecting approximately 15 homes and vehicles.
Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy described the scene in stark terms: “We have jet fuel all over the place. There is a direct hit to multiple homes. You could barely see in front of you.”
“I just walked it myself, and down the street itself, it looks like something from a movie,” Assistant Fire Department Chief Eddy said.
Local residents were jolted awake by the sound of the impact and quickly encountered thick smoke and flames.
Many were forced to evacuate immediately, leaving behind their possessions as emergency responders rushed to the scene.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Police Department advised the public to avoid the area and announced the closure of two local elementary schools due to the disaster.
The Cessna 550 involved in the crash is a type of aircraft capable of carrying six to eight passengers, though authorities have not yet confirmed the number of people on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash and noted that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into what caused this deadly accident.
Video footage from the scene shows vehicles engulfed in flames and extensive damage to residential properties.
The Murphy Canyon neighborhood, home to many military families serving our country, has been severely impacted.
Hazardous materials teams were dispatched to manage the dangerous jet fuel spill, which complicated firefighting efforts and raised concerns about environmental contamination.
In response to the emergency, authorities established a temporary evacuation center for displaced residents at Miller Elementary School.
The crash has once again raised questions about the safety of small aircraft operations near residential areas and the adequacy of federal transportation authorities’ oversight.
As investigators begin the painstaking process of determining what caused this tragedy, residents of the Murphy Canyon neighborhood are left to deal with its aftermath.
Local authorities continue to assess structural damage and are working to ensure the community’s safety as the cleanup operation begins.
