Families Flee as Private Jet Crash Ignites Homes in Foggy San Diego Night
In the predawn hours of Thursday, May 22, 2025, a catastrophic scene unfolded in San Diego’s Murphy Canyon neighborhood, a quiet residential area primarily housing military families. A Cessna 550 private jet, en route from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas, to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, crashed into the tightly packed community around 3:45 a.m., leaving a trail of devastation. The crash claimed the lives of multiple passengers aboard the aircraft, though, remarkably, no injuries were reported among residents on the ground. Dramatic video footage captured the harrowing moment of impact, showing flames and thick black smoke rising from the wreckage as the neighborhood awoke to chaos.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Sculpin Street and Santo Road, in the Tierrasanta community, just west of the Admiral Baker Golf Course. Dense fog blanketed the area, reducing visibility to mere feet, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Eddy described the crash site as a “gigantic debris field,” with shattered glass, twisted metal, and downed tree limbs strewn across the roadway. The jet, a twin-engine business aircraft capable of carrying six to eight passengers, struck the street with such force that jet fuel splattered across the neighborhood, igniting fires that consumed approximately 15 homes and numerous vehicles. “Every single car on both sides of the street was burning,” Eddy said during a press briefing, painting a vivid picture of the inferno that followed.
Residents recounted moments of terror as the crash jolted them awake. Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the impact site, described hearing a deafening explosion. “We looked out the window and saw smoke,” he said. “We grabbed our two kids and ran.” As the Moore family fled, they passed a car engulfed in flames, a stark reminder of the danger surrounding them. Despite the fear, Moore emphasized the instinct to prioritize safety: “Sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety.” Other residents shared similar stories of narrowly escaping the rapidly spreading fires, with many forced to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night.
Emergency responders acted swiftly, evacuating several blocks to ensure the safety of residents. In one heartwarming moment amid the chaos, police officers rescued three husky puppies from a damaged home, transporting them to safety in a wagon—an act that brought a glimmer of hope to an otherwise tragic scene. The San Diego Fire Department, supported by hazmat teams, worked tirelessly to contain the fires and manage the jet fuel spill, which posed a significant environmental and safety hazard. Firefighters described the scene as one of the most challenging they had faced, with flames spreading rapidly due to the fuel-soaked streets.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft was a Cessna 550, commonly known as a Citation, and noted that it was scheduled to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, located just minutes from the crash site. The pilot had reported being three miles from the runway moments before the crash, according to air traffic control recordings. Investigators are exploring whether the dense fog or a possible collision with power lines contributed to the disaster. The National Transportation Safety Board has taken the lead in the investigation, with a team dispatched to examine the wreckage and determine the cause of the crash. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of passengers aboard, though estimates suggest the jet could have carried up to ten people, including the pilot.
The Murphy Canyon neighborhood, nestled near military and civilian aviation hubs like Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Gillespie Field, is no stranger to the hum of small aircraft overhead. However, nothing could have prepared residents for the devastation of this magnitude. One home’s roof was entirely collapsed, charred, and littered with aircraft debris, while others sustained severe fire damage. The emotional toll on the community is profound, particularly for military families who call this area home. “This is a tight-knit neighborhood,” said one resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “We’re shaken, but we’re coming together to support each other.”
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of residents and assessing the full extent of the damage. The San Diego Fire Department has prioritized searching every affected home to confirm no additional injuries, while hazmat teams work to mitigate the environmental impact of the jet fuel spill. Road closures, including detours on northbound Interstate 15, have added to the disruption, but authorities are working to restore normalcy. For now, the community mourns the lives lost and grapples with the aftermath of a tragedy that has left an indelible mark on Murphy Canyon.
