Six killed in San Diego plane crash; cause under investigation
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Investigators are examining possible lighting failures and other contributing factors.
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Debris covers the ground after a small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, setting homes and cars on fire and forcing evacuations early Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP)
All six people aboard a small jet that crashed in San Diego early Thursday morning have been confirmed dead, as investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begin examining the cause of the deadly incident.
At a Friday afternoon press briefing, Dan Baker, senior air safety investigator with the NTSB, stated, “The pilot and passengers were fatally injured. There were no ground fatalities or serious injuries.” The crash is now under formal investigation, and authorities are working to identify the victims.
The aircraft, a Cessna 550 Citation, went down at approximately 3:47 am in the Murphy Canyon area near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. The jet caught fire upon impact, destroying the aircraft and damaging multiple nearby homes and vehicles.
Jet burns on impact, damages nearby homes
Baker noted that the crash site showed widespread fire damage. Around 10 homes were affected, and officials also confirmed jet fuel contamination in the area. Although there were no fatalities on the ground, eight residents, mainly from a nearby US Navy housing complex, suffered from smoke inhalation and minor injuries.
Among the victims were three employees of Sound Talent Group, a prominent music booking agency. The company confirmed the deaths of co-founder Dave Shapiro, 24-year-old Kendall Fortner, and 25-year-old Emma Huke. Shapiro, who owned the Cessna 550 Citation and held a valid pilot’s license, was reportedly flying the aircraft.
The 4 a.m. plane crash killed at least two people, and there were at least eight people injured who were on the ground in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, where many people who serve in the Marines and Navy live, San Diego officials said at a news conference.
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 23, 2025
About 100 people… pic.twitter.com/pscLLAv2lx
Sound Talent Group represents well-known artists such as Sum 41 and Vanessa Carlton.
Runway lighting issue among possible factors
One of the factors under review is whether the pilot was aware that runway and glide-path lighting at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport was out of service at the time of the crash. The NTSB said the pilot did not report any technical problems or declare an emergency before the aircraft went down.
“We anticipate the wreckage recovery will begin later today, and our team will conclude the on-scene portion of the investigation within the next two to three days,” Baker said.
The investigation into the San Diego plane crash is expected to take up to a year, as is standard in fatal aviation incidents. Local authorities are responsible for releasing the names of all victims once identification is complete.
As the NTSB continues its probe into the Cessna 550 Citation crash, the tragedy has drawn renewed attention to air safety measures at smaller executive airports like Montgomery-Gibbs.
Wider context
A troubling pair of aviation incidents has unfolded since Trump's inauguration, underscoring growing concerns about air safety in the United States.
These incidents are part of a worrisome trend: a noticeable rise in aviation mishaps across the country, particularly involving small aircraft. The string of accidents in recent months is prompting renewed scrutiny over aviation protocols and the effectiveness of current safety oversight.
As investigators work to determine the cause of the latest crash, the increase in such incidents underscores the need for enhanced safety measures and stricter regulations to prevent further tragedies.
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