Latest news with #SanDiegoFireRescue
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City answers questions about Montgomery-Gibbs airport following plane crash
regarding SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Following a tragic plane crash in Murphy Canyon on Thursday morning that left multiple people dead, officials with the City of San Diego have released responses to several frequently asked questions about Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport — the aircraft's reported destination. Around 3:45 a.m. on May 22, a Cessna Citation 550 jet crashed into a residential neighborhood near Salmon and Sculpin streets, impacting a home and several vehicles. A fireball erupted upon impact, waking residents and sending them into panic mode. Emergency crews from San Diego Fire-Rescue and San Diego Police quickly responded to the scene. Miraculously, no one on the ground was killed, with only minor injuries reported. All six people onboard the plane, however, are presumed dead. Some of the victims have already been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, while others have been named by family and friends who are now mourning the loss of their loved ones. GALLERY: Fiery plane crash leaves path of destruction in San Diego The crash is now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ongoing probe is expected to last several days. According to preliminary information, the aircraft was attempting to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in low visibility due to thick fog. Investigators also noted that some advanced aviation equipment designed to aid landings was not functioning at the airport at the time of the crash. Among the disabled systems were the runway approach lights and the airport's Automated Surface Observing System, which provides weather data to pilots. In response to public concern, city officials provided information about the airport's operations and safety measures on Saturday, just days after the deadly crash. Here's what we know, based on their response: According to city data, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport saw more than 386,000 takeoffs and landings in the past year. It is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the region. Yes. The airport is open for flight operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, its air traffic control tower is only staffed from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. After hours, pilots operate under what's called 'uncontrolled airspace.' Across the U.S., only about 10% of public airports have control towers. Most pilots are trained to operate in uncontrolled airspace and use a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to communicate with other aircraft in the area for awareness and so they can operate safely. Pilots are also required to check weather and runway conditions prior to flying. City officials said that the runway edge lights at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport were operational during the time of the crash. These lights help pilots safely land in low-visibility conditions. However, the approach lighting system—owned and maintained by the FAA—was reportedly out of service. This was previously noted in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM 10/008) issued by the FAA. The airport's Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)—also maintained by the FAA—was reportedly not working at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service. City officials noted that it had not received any notification of an outage, and no NOTAM had been issued about the weather system. San Diego mayor releases statement on deadly plane crash Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport follows FAA regulations and performs regular inspections of the airfield to ensure safety. The airport also participates in the FAA's Runway Safety Program, holding annual meetings with pilots and federal officials to review procedures and share updates. In addition, the airport and the FAA have developed a 'Know Before You Go' educational program. This includes a video and online resources to help pilots understand the airport's layout and nearby airspace complexities — including its proximity to San Diego International Airport, MCAS Miramar and Gillespie Field. The NTSB is continuing its investigation into the cause of the crash. The City of San Diego is cooperating fully with federal agencies and has pledged transparency as new information becomes available. In a statement released shortly after the plane crash, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the city will support the Navy as it assists the residents affected by this tragedy, which occurred in an area with military housing. Removal of debris and plane parts is expected in the coming days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
Small plane crashes into San Diego neighborhood, killing at least 2
LOS ANGELES, May 22 (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and eight others injured on Thursday when a small plane crashed in a San Diego neighborhood where military families lived, damaging houses and vehicles. The crash occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time (1045 GMT) in a military housing complex in the Tierrasanta neighborhood, local officials said. The crash site is a little more than 2 miles east of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. It was unclear how many people were onboard the plane when it crashed. Police said they believed no one on the ground was killed but could not immediately confirm that. 'We had a plane that had come through this neighborhood, taking out one home,' San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Dan Eddy said at a news conference in front of a damaged home. When fire crews arrived on scene, they found one home and multiple vehicles on fire, Eddy said. The San Diego Police Department reported two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured, as of 11 a.m. Thursday. Only one person with minor injuries was transported to a hospital as of Thursday morning, Eddy said. About 100 people were evacuated from homes in the neighborhood as of late Thursday morning. The plane was identified as a Cessna 550 by the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane, whose route originated in the Midwest, was bound for San Diego, Eddy said. The tract where the crash occurred is managed by Liberty Military Housing, officials said. 'We are actively working with all military families affected, specifically within this region, because they may be out of their homes for a while,' said Captain Bob Heely, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego. Heely said he was working with Liberty Military Housing and the Red Cross to provide temporary housing to the affected families. 'As you can see, the damage behind us is incredibly significant, was life-threatening, and thank God nobody on the ground was killed,' Raul Campillo, a member of the San Diego City Council, said at a news conference near the crash site. The crash will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Al Bawaba
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Al Bawaba
Deadly plane crash sparks massive fire in U.S. San Diego neighborhood
ALBAWABA- A deadly plane crash early Thursday morning ignited a massive residential fire in San Diego's Murphy Canyon neighborhood, leaving multiple homes damaged and prompting emergency evacuations. Also Read Small plane crashes in Pennsylvania The private aircraft went down just before 3:45 a.m. at the intersection of Sample and Salmon Streets, near Tierrasanta and the Admiral Baker Golf Course. The crash sparked a five-alarm blaze at a two-story home on 10257 Sample Street and ignited several nearby vehicles, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy described the chaotic scene, stating, 'There is jet fuel all over the place. Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.' He confirmed the plane made a 'direct hit' on multiple houses. Heavy fog at the time of the crash severely limited visibility, likely contributing to the accident. While initial reports did not confirm fatalities, multiple casualties have been reported, and authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage and loss. In response to the emergency, the California Highway Patrol temporarily closed sections of Interstate 15, including the northbound off-ramp to Aero Drive and southbound lanes near Santo Road. An evacuation center has been set up at Miller Elementary School (4343 Shields St.), which, along with Hancock Elementary, will remain closed for the day. Childcare services for both schools will be provided at Miller. Evacuations remain in place for residents of Salmon, Sample, and Sculpin Streets as emergency crews continue search-and-rescue operations and investigate the cause of the crash. This tragedy adds to a troubling trend of aviation incidents across the United States in recent weeks. In April, four people died in a crash in Illinois. Just a week before, a helicopter plunged into the Hudson River, killing one, while another crash in Florida resulted in multiple fatalities. In yet another alarming event, debris from a commercial jet with engine failure rained down on Denver suburbs after an emergency landing.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Overnight blaze spreads to multiple trash trucks in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A fire that started in the cab of a trash truck spread to surrounding trash trucks overnight Sunday. San Diego Fire-Rescue (SDFD) crews responded at 3:59 a.m. Sunday to calls for trash truck on fire that was parked in the 4200 block of Ruffin Road. San Diego asks that you not put these items in your garbage bins The fire broke out in the cab of the trash truck, and spread to and damaged three surrounding trash trucks, according to SDFD. Authorities at this time have not said the extent of the damage to the vehicles or the cost of repairs. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2 Navy pilots rescued after jet crashes into San Diego Bay
Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Two Navy pilots were rescued Wednesday morning after they ejected from their E/A-18 G Growler fighter jet that crashed into San Diego Bay, authorities said. San Diego Fire Rescue said it responded at 10:17 a.m. local time and assigned 60 personnel to the scene. They were rescued by a sport fishing charter after being in the water only for a minute, the U.S. Coast Guard said. They were taken to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat and then went to University of California San Diego Health in Hillcrest, where they initially were reported in stable condition, KGTV reported. The two-seater jet, which specializes in electronic warfare, was based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state and was approaching Naval Air Station North Island in a test flight, USNI News reported. It is part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. The crash was east of the San Diego base on a rainy and misty morning Justin Eaves, a vacationer, said he saw the jet crash into the bay after hearing it go over his motel near Shelter Island. "It did a couple of maneuvers," Eaves told OnScene TV, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. "You could hear it when it went over the motel and then it was kind of quiet and then it kicked up again. "And all of a sudden, a few seconds later, I just saw the plane going straight down into the water," he said. The plane didn't hit any buildings on Shelter Island. "Thank God that nobody -- all this stuff right over here that plane could have hit," he said. "Luckily it didn't. [It was] very fortunate." The first Growler test aircraft flew in August 2006. It is a variant in the F/A-18.
