Cessna Plane Crash in San Diego Kills Passengers, Burns Homes
A private Cessna jet crash hit a San Diego neighborhood early morning on May 22, killing people on board and damaging several houses. The accident took place in Murphy Canyon, a quiet community close to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The aircraft, a Cessna Citation II, had taken off from Teterboro, New Jersey, and stopped in Wichita, Kansas, to refuel. It was nearing its final destination in San Diego around 3:45 a.m. when it went down in thick fog. Visibility at the time was poor, with reports of less than half a mile.
Instead of landing, the plane struck a row of homes. The impact caused a large explosion. Jet fuel spilled onto the street, which led to fires spreading quickly to cars and houses nearby.
Fire crews responded fast. They worked to put out the flames while hazmat teams focused on cleaning up the fuel. Officials evacuated over 100 people and shut down Hancock and Miller Elementary Schools for safety.
Key facts about the incident:
- Plane: Cessna Citation II (Model 550), a midsize business je
- Flight path: Departed from Teterboro, NJ, stopped in Wichita, KS, then headed to San Diego
- Crash time: 3:45 a.m. on May 22
- Conditions: Dense fog and limited visibility
- Damage: 10–15 homes affected, several cars burned
- Fatalities: All on board died; no ground deaths reported
- Evacuations: 100+ residents displaced
- Schools: Two local schools temporarily closed
‘Not Something You Expect to See’
Police Chief Scott Wahl described the scene as overwhelming. “You had jet fuel running down the street and homes on fire, it’s not something you expect to see,” he said.
Resident Christopher Moore added, “I saw a flash, heard a bang, and knew something had gone wrong.”
So far, officials have not confirmed how many people were on the plane, but fire personnel say multiple passengers were killed. The FAA and NTSB are now leading the investigation.
Investigators will review flight data, pilot records, weather conditions, and any contact the aircraft might have had with objects before crashing. Cleanup and recovery work in the area is ongoing.
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