On Thursday, a private jet flying in foggy weather hit a power line and crashed into a San Diego neighborhood. The plane smashed into the home of a San Diego native, Ben McCarty, destroying his home and claiming the lives of all six passengers.
Police officers on the scene shared that no members of the neighborhood died; however, eight people were taken to the hospital for minor injuries such as smoke inhalation.
Following the crash, McCarty’s home was left in pieces; the roof partially collapsed and the front was heavily burnt. Officials described that 10 other houses in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood — the largest Navy-owned housing in the country — were damaged.
Describing the first moments of the crash, McCarty told ABC News, “My wife was screaming, and she’s like, ‘There’s a fire.’” As he walked toward the front of his home, a scene of destruction unfolded before his eyes.
McCarty and his wife grabbed their children and dogs and rushed for the back exit, where neighbors helped them escape.
Neighbors who witnessed the crash described a “whooshing sound” before seeing a giant fireball outside their homes.
Many residents felt blessed to have survived the devastating destruction to their homes. “I definitely do feel blessed, because we’ve been spared,” shared Ariya Waterworth, a witness to the crash and resident of the neighborhood.
After the crash, at least 100 residents were evacuated from the neighborhood. San Diego Fire Department (SDFD) officials explained that jet fuel flooded the streets, leaving the smell lingering for days.
Flight Path
The private flight took off from Tetaboro, New Jersey, at 11:15 p.m. on May 21, 2025, and stopped for fuel in Wichita, Kansas. According to AP News, the flight was bound for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when it smashed into power lines about two miles southeast of the airport.
Assistant SDFD Chief Dan Eddy, who was on the scene of the crash, explained that on the morning of the crash the fog was so thick, “you could barely see through it.”
Berry Newman, a board-certified aviation attorney, elucidated the possible circumstances surrounding the crash to AP news. According to Newman, the plane likely operated on an instrument flight rules plan because of the weather.
When flying into Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, once the aircraft reaches 673 feet during its descent, the pilot must rely on sight to guide the landing.
“If a pilot descends to that level and he can’t see the runway, he has to call for a missed approach or divert to another airport,” described Newman.
