Multiple Dead as Private Jet Crashes into San Diego Military Housing

A private jet crashed into military housing in San Diego during foggy weather early Thursday morning, killing multiple people on board and causing extensive damage to homes and vehicles in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood.

The Cessna Citation II jet, which could hold eight to 10 people, crashed just before 4 a.m. near Tierrasanta in what authorities described as the U.S. military’s largest housing neighborhood. The aircraft had originated Wednesday night from Teterboro, New Jersey, made a refueling stop in Wichita, Kansas, and was scheduled to arrive at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport at 3:47 a.m.

Weather conditions at the time were extremely poor, with dense fog reducing visibility to barely half a mile. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy said you could barely see in front of you during the crash. Authorities are investigating whether the plane may have struck a power line before going down.

The impact created a devastating scene of destruction. About 10 homes suffered damage, with at least one home showing a charred and collapsed roof. Jet fuel spilled down the street, igniting every vehicle parked on both sides of the road. Half a dozen cars were completely charred, and debris from the aircraft was scattered throughout the area.

While all fatalities appear to be from the aircraft itself, several residents were injured. Five people from a single family were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and another person required hospital treatment for injuries sustained while climbing out a window to escape. Two others received treatment for minor injuries at the scene.

The emergency response was swift and extensive. More than 50 police officers arrived within minutes and began evacuating homes. At least 100 residents were displaced and taken to an evacuation center established at a nearby elementary school. Hazmat crews were called to handle the jet fuel spill that continued to burn hours after the crash.

Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang and saw smoke when they looked out the window. They grabbed their three young children and fled their home, seeing a car engulfed in flames on their way out of the neighborhood.

The neighborhood consists of single-family homes and townhomes located about 2 miles from Montgomery-Gibbs Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash.

This incident marks another tragic aviation accident in the San Diego area. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crashed into a San Diego suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS driver while burning homes. In December 2008, a Marine Corps fighter jet crashed into University City, killing four people in a house.