An early morning explosion shattered the calm of San Diego’s Murphy Canyon neighborhood as residents awoke to a disaster unfolding outside their doors.
As many as ten people are believed to have died after a private Cessna 550 jet crashed early Thursday morning in heavy fog, as reported by the Daily Mail. The plane burst into flames on impact, setting off a large fire that destroyed several homes.
San Diego police and fire officials confirmed that no one on the ground was injured, but the crash left behind a trail of devastation: homes reduced to charred frames, cars burned to shells, and a neighborhood evacuated due to hazardous materials from leaking jet fuel.
Residents flee burning homes
Neighbors described the moment of impact as a “loud boom,” followed by shaking walls and the immediate threat of flames. Christopher Moore, a resident living one street away, said he and his family ran to safety after seeing a car engulfed in fire outside. “It was definitely horrifying for sure, but sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety,” Moore said.
San Diego Fire-Rescue’s Assistant Chief Dan Eddy detailed the extent of the destruction. At least 15 properties were damaged, with every parked car on both sides of Salmon Street caught in the blaze. Debris, shattered glass, and twisted metal littered the neighborhood while thick black smoke continued to billow from the scene.
Evacuations quickly spread across multiple streets, as first responders feared the spread of hazardous jet fuel. The incident was declared a HAZMAT situation, with officials warning that the fuel runoff posed a serious threat both to property and public safety.
Investigators probe fog and flight path
The cause of the crash remains unknown, but officials highlighted the dense fog blanketing the area in the early hours. Eyewitnesses reported near-zero visibility just before the jet came down at 3:47 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the Cessna 550 was approaching Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, less than three miles from the crash site, after a flight from the Midwest.
Assistant Chief Eddy said authorities are investigating whether the plane struck a power line before impact, as a power pole was brought down, causing widespread outages. In a news conference, Eddy described a “direct hit to multiple homes” and a “gigantic debris field” that covered the street.
A Marine Corps sergeant who witnessed the event told NBC 7 that the pilot appeared to attempt an emergency landing in the middle of the street, reportedly steering away from residential houses at the last moment.
Neighborhood shaken by tragedy
Murphy Canyon is home to numerous military service members, with single-family homes and townhouses densely clustered near several regional airports, including Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Many residents, including families with young children, were forced to flee in their pajamas, gathering in a nearby parking lot for updates on when they could return.
Emergency crews from multiple agencies, including military police, California Highway Patrol, and local ambulance services, responded to the scene. Police were seen rescuing three husky puppies from a burning home, rolling them away from danger in a wagon as the fire raged on.
Scenes from the aftermath resembled a disaster movie, with collapsed roofs, charred vehicles, and scorched tree limbs stretching the length of Salmon Street. Authorities warned that the search for victims could take time as firefighters and investigators worked to clear homes, search the crash site, and assess the full extent of the destruction.
Past crashes raise concerns
The incident has drawn comparisons to previous aviation tragedies in San Diego. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crash killed both the pilot and a UPS driver on the ground, while a 2008 Marine Corps fighter jet crash in University City killed four people after an explosion blamed on mechanical and human error.
Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have taken the lead in examining this latest disaster. Officials stressed that the number of people on board the Cessna 550 remains unclear, but the plane is designed to carry up to ten.
A traffic alert remains in place for Interstate 15, with off-ramps closed and drivers urged to avoid the area. Residents are not expected to return home until the hazmat situation is resolved and the neighborhood is deemed safe.
