San Diego, CA — In the early hours of Thursday morning, the tranquility of a San Diego neighborhood was shattered by a devastating private jet crash that claimed multiple lives and left a trail of fiery destruction in its wake. Dramatic video footage has emerged showing the moment the aircraft plunged from the fog-laden sky and erupted in flames upon impact, sending shockwaves through the Tierrasanta community.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. in the Murphy Canyon area, near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, a hub for private and corporate aviation. The jet, descending amid dense fog and extremely low visibility, veered off its flight path and slammed into the residential zone near Sculpin Street and Santo Road — one of the more densely populated sections of the Tierrasanta neighborhood.
Emergency responders rushed to the chaotic scene, where flames from ignited jet fuel were consuming everything in their path. Despite the severity of the impact, authorities confirmed that there were no injuries on the ground. However, all those on board the aircraft were tragically killed. The number of fatalities has not been officially confirmed, pending identification and notification of families.
Assistant San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief Dan Eddy provided grim details at a press conference shortly after sunrise.
“When it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down, it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street,” Eddy said. “You can see that every single car was burning down both sides of the street.”
Firefighters battled an intense inferno that engulfed vehicles, homes, and vegetation in the area. It took several hours to bring the blaze under control. By that time, approximately 15 homes had sustained serious fire damage, with at least a handful rendered uninhabitable. Thick black smoke continued to billow into the sky long after sunrise, a grim reminder of the morning’s tragedy.
In addition to the fire, the crash left behind a “gigantic debris field” that spanned several blocks. First responders described the scene as apocalyptic, with shredded tree limbs, splintered wood, and jagged metal strewn across driveways and lawns. Chunks of the jet’s fuselage lay scattered among the ruins, some pieces embedded in rooftops or lodged into walls.
One home suffered a catastrophic roof collapse, and large fragments of the jet’s wreckage were found in its front yard. Windows in surrounding homes were shattered by the blast force, and several residents described being thrown from their beds by the sound of the impact.
“I thought it was an earthquake,” said Maria Gonzalez, who lives two blocks away. “The ground shook, and then there was this huge boom and this orange light — I ran outside and saw the sky on fire.”
As investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) begin the arduous process of piecing together what went wrong, questions remain about why the jet was attempting to land under such poor weather conditions. Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft was on approach to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when it lost altitude rapidly.
The name of the aircraft operator has not yet been released, nor has the flight’s point of origin. However, local aviation sources say the jet was likely attempting a routine early-morning landing.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and commending first responders for their swift and courageous actions.
“This is a devastating tragedy for our city,” Gloria said. “We are heartbroken for the lives lost and the families impacted by this horrific event. Our emergency crews have done a tremendous job under extremely difficult circumstances, and we will continue to support the affected residents in every way possible.”
Authorities have cordoned off a wide perimeter around the crash site, and displaced residents are being assisted by local shelters and Red Cross volunteers. Utility crews are also working to restore power and gas services in the area.
As San Diego begins to reckon with the aftermath, the haunting images of burning homes, scorched cars, and smoldering wreckage stand as a stark reminder of how swiftly tragedy can strike. Investigators are expected to remain on-site for several days as they sift through the wreckage and search for the flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, which could hold crucial clues.
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