SAN DIEGO — A small business jet crashed into a San Diego military housing neighborhood Thursday morning, killing at least two people aboard and triggering a fierce blaze that destroyed homes and vehicles, authorities said.
The San Diego Police Department confirmed via social media that two individuals died in the crash and eight others sustained injuries. Emergency officials said approximately 15 homes were impacted, with fires consuming multiple residences and cars.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Dan Eddy described the devastation during a press briefing:
“I just walked it myself, and down the street itself, it looks like something from a movie,” Eddy said, noting that no ground fatalities had been reported despite the widespread damage.
Eddy said the victims were onboard the aircraft, a Cessna C550 jet manufactured in 1985, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The exact number of passengers has not been confirmed, but the aircraft can accommodate eight to ten people, including the pilot. The identities of the deceased remain unknown as of Thursday afternoon.
The crash ignited a massive fireball and spilled jet fuel across multiple streets, prompting evacuations and the dispatch of hazardous materials teams.
“We have jet fuel all over the place,” Eddy said. “We have hazmat on scene right now, and we’ve asked for more resources to come for that.”
All the affected residences were military housing units, and U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Healy said that displaced families may be out of their homes for some time. He added that the Navy would assist with temporary housing arrangements.
The aircraft departed Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on Wednesday night, landing briefly in Wichita, Kansas early Thursday before heading toward Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego, according to FlightAware tracking data. The plane crashed shortly before its expected arrival.
Aerial footage of the aftermath showed smoldering wreckage, a charred residential structure, and burnt-out cars along the street. Police Chief Scott Wahl described the site as “pretty horrific,” with “jet fuel going down the street and everything on fire all at once.”
Local resident Forrest Gallagher, a Marine Corps mechanic, said he was jolted awake by a “loud boom.”
“I smelt a weird burning smell, like rubber or plastic,” Gallagher told NBC News. He ran outside to see a vehicle engulfed in flames, though he did not spot any plane wreckage and was not evacuated.
Another neighbor, Jasmine, described how she helped a neighbor escape the fire by using a ladder to bridge the gap between fences.
“That’s the beauty of what I love in this neighborhood — military looking out for one another,” said Assistant Chief Eddy, referencing her actions.
San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo acknowledged that “numerous homes were lost,” but assured that “no more people are in harm’s way at this moment.”
“I pray for those who lost their lives and we will help those affected recover,” he said in a statement.
The San Diego Police Department urged residents to avoid the area and confirmed the closure of two elementary schools nearby due to safety concerns.
Mayor Todd Gloria praised the emergency response, stating:
“Still a tragedy, and again, our hearts are with those who are impacted. We’ll continue to be here throughout this response effort to make sure the families who are not able to access their homes are well supported.”
The FAA said it was still working to confirm the total number of people aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
