A Cessna 550 — an executive model used for corporate and private flights — crashed into a residential neighborhood just two miles 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 fire due to the complexity of the condominium and the extremely low visibility.
Thick fog covered the area, creating what firefighters called a “chaotic and treacherous scene.”
“The impact was direct to several homes. We have jet fuel strewn all over the neighborhood. Our biggest challenge right now is making 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, fuselage parts, broken glass and personal belongings are scattered across the ground, mixing interrupted lives with the metal wreckage of the aircraft. An image that resembles a war scene 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 crash. Initial analyses indicate that weather conditions, especially dense fog, may have played a crucial role in the incident.
However, authorities do not rule out mechanical failure or human error.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria declared an official mourning day and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. “We are facing a tragedy that strikes at the heart of our community. Our teams are mobilized to ensure safety, assistance and rapid response,” he said.
Neighbors and volunteers came together to provide temporary shelter for residents who lost their homes. Many were not even able 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 investigations ongoing and a scenario that still poses risks — including new fires due to spilled fuel — authorities recommend that the public 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.
Meanwhile, a question echoes through the condominium’s hallways and the 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.
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