In a devastating incident early Thursday morning, a private plane crashed into a residential area of San Diego, California, during notoriously foggy weather conditions. The crash resulted in the ignition of approximately 15 homes, triggering immediate evacuations along several blocks as emergency services responded to the chaos.

Authorities have confirmed that multiple passengers aboard the aircraft lost their lives, although miraculously, there were no reported injuries among residents on the ground. Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy spoke to the press, stating, “There is a direct hit to multiple homes” in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, an area heavily populated by military families.

The incident occurred around 3:45 AM local time, coinciding with thick fog that severely limited visibility. “You could barely see in front of you,” Eddy recounted, underscoring the hazardous conditions at the time of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the Cessna 550 was approaching Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when the mishap occurred. The aircraft, which is typically designed to carry between six to eight individuals, left a significant debris field scattered across the densely packed neighborhood.

Witnesses reported a loud explosion that awoke them from their sleep, followed by the sight of an ominous orange glow illuminating the foggy night sky. Residents like Christopher Moore, who lived just a street away from the crash site, described the harrowing moments following the explosion. “It was definitely horrifying for sure,” he said. “But sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety.” Along with his wife and two young children, Moore fled their home amidst the chaos, observing a car completely engulfed in flames as they escaped.

The impact of the crash was severe; jet fuel spread across the area, resulting in numerous vehicles on the street bursting into flames. “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 explained, pointing out the charred remains of at least half a dozen vehicles. The wreckage included a blackened roof from one home that had collapsed, with fragments of metal littering the road.

In the aftermath of the crash, emergency services faced the daunting task of ensuring the safety of residents and conducting thorough searches of the affected homes. Eddy noted the extensive debris field and the complex nature of the response, particularly in a neighborhood where many military service members reside. This residential area is not only home to families but also heavily frequented by small civilian and military aircraft, given its proximity to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, and Gillespie Field.

The FAA has initiated an investigation into the incident, which will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This crash echoes a similar tragic event from October 2021, when a twin-engine plane crashed into a San Diego suburb, claiming the lives of the pilot and a UPS delivery driver on the ground. That plane was also preparing to land at an airport when the disaster struck. Another notable incident occurred in December 2008, when a Marine Corps fighter jet collided with a house in the University City neighborhood of San Diego, killing four individuals inside due to mechanical failure and human error.