Turning a quiet morning into fiery chaos, shockwaves rocked a neighborhood when a small plane crashed into the area, creating a huge fire that forced residents to evacuate.
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A small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early in the morning, igniting a scene of utter devastation as jet fuel spread across the area, setting multiple homes ablaze.
Military families in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood were jolted from sleep by what witnesses described as a “loud boom” followed by spreading flames.
The catastrophic scene, which one fire official said “looks like something from a movie,” raises serious questions about aviation safety protocols at the nearby Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The Cessna 550 aircraft, capable of carrying six to eight passengers, plummeted into the residential area during foggy conditions, affecting approximately 15 homes and vehicles.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were aboard the aircraft when it went down or whether there were any casualties.
The crash triggered an immediate emergency response, with fire crews battling flames fueled by spilled jet fuel while hazmat teams worked to contain the dangerous spillage across the neighborhood.
Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy described a scene of chaos and destruction during early response efforts.
The combination of dense fog and spreading jet fuel created treacherous conditions for first responders working to evacuate residents and secure the area.
“We have jet fuel all over the place,” Eddy reported, highlighting the extraordinary danger posed to the neighborhood and emergency personnel.
The Murphy Canyon neighborhood, home to many military families serving the country, faced a nightmarish awakening as residents were forced to evacuate with little warning.
Local authorities established a temporary evacuation center at Miller Elementary School to accommodate displaced families.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Police Department advised the public to avoid the area entirely.
It announced the closure of two local elementary schools, further disrupting community life in the aftermath of this devastating incident.
In addition, video footage from the scene shows vehicles engulfed in flames and widespread property damage.
Local resident Forrest Gallagher reported being awakened by a tremendous boom followed by the smell of burning materials, though he did not immediately see plane wreckage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the crash occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, raising questions about whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or the foggy conditions contributed to this tragedy.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead on investigating this disaster, with assistance from the FAA.
As federal investigators begin their work, many local residents wonder whether enough is being done to ensure flight safety over densely populated areas.
Although authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash, the incident underscores the ongoing concerns about small aircraft operations in and around major metropolitan areas.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria acknowledged the incident on social media, promising city resources to address the emergency.
At the same time, hardworking first responders managed to extinguish the fires that had broken out across the neighborhood, preventing what could have been an even more extensive disaster.
As the community begins to process this traumatic event, questions remain about potential long-term environmental impacts from the jet fuel contamination and whether affected homeowners will receive proper compensation for damages caused by this aviation disaster.
SMALL PLANE CRASHES INTO SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOOD: A Cessna 550 aircraft crashed into a residential area near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego, setting 15 homes on fire and prompting evacuations across several blocks. The crash occurred during dense fog conditions… pic.twitter.com/A6x3GGkdO1
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