San Diego police confirmed that two people died when a Cessna plane crashed on the runway of Montgomery‑Gibbs Executive Airport in Kearny Mesa on Monday evening. The aircraft went down at approximately 5:21 p.m., igniting a fire that quickly engulfed the wings.
Emergency response
San Diego Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Raines said fire crews arrived within minutes, fought the blaze and were able to extinguish it, though the plane remained at the crash site. The airport was temporarily closed while emergency personnel secured the area and cleaned up a small fuel leak caused by the heavy damage to the aircraft.
Eyewitness accounts
Two hangar workers, Melizza Cardiel and her fiancé Mauricio Godinez, heard a “big boom” and rushed to the scene with fire extinguishers, only to find the aircraft already ablaze. “As soon as we got back to the plane, flames were engulfing the wings,” Godinez said. “The wings were melting, caving in.”
Investigation underway
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead a formal investigation. At this stage, officials have not determined whether the plane was taking off or landing, nor have they confirmed the pilot’s experience level or whether the flight was a training mission.
Context and safety concerns
The crash revives community concerns about aviation safety in the region. It follows a similar incident in May 2025 when a Cessna 550 crashed near Tierrasanta, underscoring the importance of rigorous safety protocols at local airports.
What’s next?
Authorities will keep Montgomery‑Gibbs Airport closed until the wreckage is cleared and the site is deemed safe. The NTSB’s findings will be released in due course, providing more detail on the cause of the accident.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
