San Diego Plane Crash Ignites Homes, Displaces Residents in Military Neighborhood

A small Cessna 550 crashed into San Diego’s Murphy Canyon military neighborhood at 3:45 a.m., igniting homes and vehicles in a fiery chaos. Multiple fatalities were reported aboard the plane, though no serious injuries occurred on the ground. The crash left a trail of destruction, displacing nearly 100 residents from what Naval Base San Diego Capt. Bob Healy called "one of the largest military housing areas in the world."

The plane, originating from the Midwest, struck a pole, lost a wing, and slammed into a home, scattering debris across a densely packed residential area. Fifteen homes were damaged, with jet fuel sparking fires that consumed houses and cars. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy described a "gigantic debris field" and noted the challenge of extinguishing stubborn fires fueled by jet fuel. First responders worked tirelessly, going door-to-door to ensure residents’ safety.

Video footage captured one home with a collapsed roof and three charred cars in its driveway, while debris littered nearby roads. The crash site, near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, prompted a massive response from police and fire crews. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause, which remains unclear. A witness described hearing loud booms followed by "flames everywhere."

Roads around the crash site remain closed, and the community is reeling from the devastation. The incident underscores the fragility of safety in even the most secure neighborhoods, leaving residents to pick up the pieces amid smoldering wreckage.