Runway Lights Out in Fog Before Deadly San Diego Jet Crash

Investigators revealed Friday that runway lights were not functioning and fog was heavy when a Cessna 550 Citation jet crashed while attempting to land at San Diego’s Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, likely killing all six people aboard. The accident occurred around 4 a.m. Thursday, with the aircraft crashing two miles short of the runway into a U.S. Navy residential neighborhood.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the airport’s weather alert system was also offline due to a power surge. The pilot, who was returning from a cross-country trip after a concert at Madison Square Garden, discussed the poor visibility with air traffic control but chose not to divert. Audio recordings show he was aware of the fog and the inoperable weather system but never mentioned the runway lights being out.

Among the victims were music executive Dave Shapiro, two employees of Sound Talent Group, and a former drummer for The Devil Wears Prada. Shapiro, the registered owner of the plane, had a valid pilot’s license.

Witnesses described waking to explosions and fire. One home was destroyed, ten others were damaged, and eight residents were treated for injuries. Fire spread rapidly due to ignited jet fuel.

Former FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti suggested fatigue and dense fog likely contributed to the crash. FAA rules require pilots to check NOTAMs, which had flagged the lights outage. The aircraft came in too low and struck power lines before impact. Officials continue to investigate, with no clear timeline for displaced residents to return.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, apnews.com