SAN DIEGO — A tragic plane crash early Thursday morning claimed two lives and injured several others when a private jet struck military housing during foggy conditions. The incident occurred just before 4 a.m., igniting vehicles and igniting panic among the local community.
The small aircraft, which can accommodate between eight and ten passengers, reportedly crashed in the largest military housing area in San Diego. Fire Chief Dan Eddy confirmed the details at a press conference, noting that the exact number of people aboard remains unclear. It is still undetermined if both fatalities were individuals on the plane itself.
Emergency responders initially reported no immediate transferrals from the crash site, but later updates indicated that five individuals from one family were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. Additionally, one person sustained injuries while attempting to escape from a window, and two others were treated for minor wounds at the scene.
Details surrounding the plane reveal that it was on a flight from Teterboro, New Jersey, with a stop in Wichita, Kansas, before arriving at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego. Flight tracking showed that the aircraft was expected to land shortly after the crash time. Eyewitness accounts describe a horrifying scene, as charred vehicles and debris littered the neighborhood.
With over 50 police officers deployed within minutes of the incident, authorities swiftly began evacuating nearby homes. About 100 residents were temporarily relocated to an evacuation center set up at a local elementary school. Witness Christopher Moore recounted his experience of being jolted from sleep by a loud bang, quickly grabbing his family and fleeing the chaos.
Ariya Waterworth, another nearby resident, reported hearing a “whooshing sound” moments before a fireball erupted outside her home. Firefighters arrived swiftly, and she recalled the fearful moments as she rushed to evacuate her children and pets.
The aftermath left the community grappling with the horror of the crash. Witnesses described large portions of debris scattered across yards, damaged vehicles, and an acrid smell of jet fuel. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl characterized the scene as “horrific,” emphasizing the chaos that ensued amid the flames and smoke.
Eddy noted that weather conditions were particularly poor at the time of the crash, with heavy fog obscuring visibility. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are now examining whether the plane may have struck a power line before crashing.
Tragically, this incident is not an isolated event for San Diego. In previous years, the area has experienced other plane crashes involving civilian and military aircraft, raising concerns about aviation safety in residential regions. The community is now left to ponder both the immediate and broader implications of this tragic event.