A private business jet crash unfolded in a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday, sending shockwaves through the community as the impact ignited fires in approximately 15 homes and necessitated the evacuation of residents across several blocks. Authorities are on the scene in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, battling the blazes and conducting urgent searches for potential victims.
Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy confirmed the severity of the incident, stating, “We have jet fuel all over the place.” He emphasized that the immediate priority for San Diego fire officials was to “search all these homes and get everybody out right now,” underscoring the critical nature of the unfolding situation.
Eddy also reported a “direct hit to multiple homes” in the Murphy Canyon residential area, though information regarding injuries or fatalities remains unconfirmed at this time. The presence of jet fuel has significantly exacerbated the San Diego house fires sparked by the crash.
A spokesperson for the San Diego Fire Department identified the aircraft as a Cessna 550 airplane, commonly known as a Citation jet. The private jet crash occurred near Montgomery Executive Airport around 3:45 AM local time on Thursday.
The Cessna Citation, a popular model for business travel, typically accommodates six to eight people. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations into the San Diego plane accident.
The FAA released a statement confirming that “the number of people on board is unknown at this time,” a crucial detail that investigators are actively working to ascertain.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware also revealed that the Cessna 550 had departed from Teterboro Airport in New York City late Wednesday night, making a brief stop in Wichita, Kansas, before continuing its journey to San Diego.
Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy noted the challenging weather conditions at the time of the private plane crash, noting that it was “very foggy” and visibility was extremely poor, with residents barely able to see in front of them.
While the cause of the San Diego aviation accident is under investigation, the heavy foggy weather at the time of crash will undoubtedly be a key factor examined by the NTSB and FAA.
More details to come….
