A Learjet 35A crashed in a residential area, killing all on board.
The aircraft was completing the turn for the final approach to runway 27R at San Diego Gillespie Field, California. It struck Pepper Drive in a residential area of El Cajon, San Diego, 2,6 km east of the runway threshold and burst into flames.
San Diego Gillespie Field Tower cleared the flight to land on runway 17. At 19:11 the flight contacted ATC, cancelling their IFR clearance and requesting to land on runway 27R. It was approved.
The flight crew then requested the runway lights to be turned up, to which the controller replied that “they are at a 100% now”.
The pilot requesting clearance to land then screaming “…oh shit! oh shit!,” before the transmission went silent.
Chilling audio of air traffic radio from Learjet N880Z – you can hear the pilot requesting clearance to land then screaming “…oh shit! oh shit!,” before the transmission went silent. Authorities confirm the plane that crashed is a Learjet. No official word on fatalities. pic.twitter.com/yGXrSuZJ0A
— Malik Earnest (@MalikEarnest) December 28, 2021
The plane allegedly clipped a powerline on its descent causing a power outage and fire. 2,580 customers initially without electricity. About a half-dozen SDG&E trucks were in the area Monday night as workers attempted to restore power amid steady rainfall.
By 11:45 p.m., power had been restored to most customers, though roughly 350 remained in the dark. Sheriff’s officials said local personnel from the American Red Cross would respond in the morning to help those who were still without electricity.
Just before 9 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department tweeted that the burning wreckage of the plane had been extinguished. Just after 10:20 p.m., two chaplains arrived at the scene.