A Cessna 550 — an executive model used for corporate and private flights — suddenly crashed in a residential neighborhood just 3 kilometers from the private Montgomery-Gibbs Airport. The impact destroyed at least 15 homes and started a series of fires that forced the emergency evacuation of dozens of families. At least two people died and eight others were injured, some seriously. The clock was almost midnight when the residents’ peace was interrupted. Witnesses reported hearing a deafening noise before seeing a ball of fire appear between the houses. “It sounded like thunder, but it didn’t stop. Then the sky turned orange,” said one of the residents, visibly shaken. Within minutes, the fire was consuming parked vehicles, roofs and gardens. The Fire Department was called immediately, but had difficulty reaching the exact location of the crash due to the complexity of the condominium and extremely low visibility. Dense fog covered the area, creating what firefighters called a “chaotic and treacherous scene.”
“The impact was direct on several homes. We have jet fuel spread throughout the neighborhood. Our biggest challenge right now is to make sure there are no casualties in the rubble,” said Dan Eddy, assistant chief of the San Diego Fire Department.
According to Eddy, the debris field is extensive and reveals the violence of the impact. Wooden beams, pieces of the fuselage, broken glass and personal belongings are scattered across the ground, mixing lives interrupted with the metal wreckage of the aircraft. It’s an image that resembles a war zone more than a luxury condominium.
So far, authorities have not confirmed how many people were on board the aircraft, although the Cessna 550 can carry up to eight occupants. The origin and destination of the flight have also not been released, further increasing the climate of uncertainty surrounding the tragedy.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Initial analyses indicate that weather conditions, especially dense fog, may have played a crucial role in the incident.
However, authorities have not ruled out mechanical failure or human error.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria declared official mourning and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims. “We are facing a tragedy that touches the heart of our community. Our teams are mobilized to ensure safety, assistance and rapid responses,” he said.
Neighbors and volunteers gathered to offer temporary shelter to residents who lost their homes. Many were unable to recover documents or clothes. The silence that remains now is marked by the sound of machines excavating debris and the heavy breathing of those still trying to understand what happened.
With the investigations ongoing and a scenario that still poses risks — including new fires due to spilled fuel — authorities recommend that the population avoid the area. FAA and NTSB technicians are expected to remain on site for the next few days, searching for clues that will help reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
In the meantime, a question echoes through the hallways of the condominium and on local news: how could a small plane crash in an area so close to an airport, without any prior warning?
The answer may take some time. But the certainty that this night will be forever marked by the residents of San Diego — and especially by the victims of this tragedy — is already a fact.
