SAN DIEGO (AP) — A private jet crashed into a U.S. military housing neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday amid dense fog, killing two people and injuring several others. The crash ignited multiple vehicles and homes, displacing more than 100 residents and leaving a trail of destruction.
The aircraft went down just before 4 a.m. in the U.S. military’s largest housing complex, damaging approximately 10 homes and destroying at least six vehicles. Authorities have not confirmed how many people were on board, though the jet had capacity for 8 to 10 passengers.
San Diego Fire Department Assistant Chief Dan Eddy said two fatalities were confirmed, though it remains unclear if both were aboard the jet. Officials said the plane was arriving from the Midwest and was on final approach to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, located about two miles from the crash site.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed the aircraft was a Cessna Citation II jet scheduled to land at 3:47 a.m. The flight originated in Teterboro, New Jersey, made a fueling stop in Wichita, Kansas, and was bound for San Diego.
Following the crash, five members of one family were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Another person was treated at a hospital after escaping through a window, and two others were treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to San Diego Police Officer Anthony Carrasco.
The crash sparked multiple fires and left the smell of jet fuel lingering in the area for hours. “Jet fuel was running down the street. Everything was on fire—it was horrific,” said Police Chief Scott Wahl.
Wreckage from the jet was scattered across several blocks. Charred cars, tree debris, and aircraft parts littered the streets. One vehicle continued to smolder hours after the crash as emergency crews worked to extinguish stubborn fires.
Authorities are investigating whether the aircraft clipped a power line before crashing. Weather conditions were extremely foggy, and visibility was severely limited, Eddy noted.
More than 50 police officers responded quickly, helping evacuate dozens of homes. Displaced residents were directed to an evacuation center at a nearby elementary school.
Among the affected was Christopher Moore, who said he and his wife rushed out of their home with their three young children after hearing a loud explosion. “It was horrifying,” he said.
Local resident Ariya Waterworth described waking to a “whooshing sound” followed by a massive fireball. Her yard was strewn with plane parts and debris. “One of our cars was completely disintegrated,” she said. “I definitely feel blessed—we’ve been spared.”
City Councilmember Raoul Castillo praised residents for their bravery, recounting stories of military families helping each other escape flames and smoke.
Audio from liveATC.net recorded the pilot announcing a final approach just three miles from the airport minutes before the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed.
The incident is reminiscent of past San Diego aviation tragedies, including a 2021 crash that killed two and a 2008 Marine Corps jet accident that claimed four lives in a residential neighborhood.
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