Plane Crash in Murphy Canyon Sparks Fires Amid Dense Fog

A small aircraft bound for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport tragically crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighborhood early Thursday morning, as confirmed by local officials.

The crash was reported around 3:47 a.m. in the 3100 block of Salmon Street, close to the Tierrasanta area. This location is within a military housing neighborhood.

“We have not yet transported anyone from the location,” stated San Diego Fire-Rescue Division Chief Dan Eddy.

Eddy noted that several homes and vehicles were ablaze, with efforts underway to control the fire.

“Numerous cars are engulfed in flames, and there is jet fuel scattered everywhere,” Eddy explained. “We have our hazardous materials team on-site and have requested additional support. We are also coordinating with military personnel,” Eddy added. “Our immediate priority is to ensure all houses are evacuated and no individuals remain inside. Once cleared, we’ll focus on inspecting the center, where the plane crashed near the vehicles, followed by a thorough search of the aircraft itself.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disclosed that the plane involved was a Cessna 550, en route to the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, carrying an unknown number of passengers. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the crash.

The FAA released a statement to NBC 7, which reads:

“A Cessna 550 crashed close to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in California, approximately at 3:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 22. The number of people on board remains unknown. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting an investigation. The NTSB will lead the inquiry and provide updates. This information is preliminary and subject to revisions.”

According to NBC 7’s Sheena Parveen, the crash occurred amid dense fog conditions prevailing in the area.