San Diego jet crash video: Tragedy traumatizes military families living near Montgomery-Gibbs Airport
Crash killed six, displaced 39 families; survivors now live in fear under airport’s active flight path in San Diego.
A catastrophic private jet crash on May 22 has left seemingly permanent psychological wounds on the military families in San Diego's Murphy Canyon neighborhood. The Cessna 550 Citation crashed into the community after hitting power lines in thick fog about 3:47 a.m. There were six people onboard, all of whom perished. No one on the ground sustained physical injuries, although dozens of families were displaced, and many continue to tremble in fear directly beneath the same flight path.
Residents report trauma reactions that include anxiety, disrupted sleep, and panic attacks in response to planes that pass overhead. Some asked to relocate to places that did not fall under the flight path. The Navy family housing community is located only two miles from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, which operates 24/7 and sees more than 386,000 takeoffs and landings each year.
Crash impact: displacement, trauma, recovery
A plane crash destroyed two homes and resulted in the temporary evacuation of 39 families from the area. Fire and explosions from burning jet fuel destroyed multiple houses. Families, including those with infants and pets, fled in the middle of the night when fire blocked their exits and flames were entering their homes. It's been months but families, including children, still occasionally describe nightmares of seeing fire and explosions.
Of the 39 families, Liberty Military Housing reports that 31 of the evacuees have returned or been rehoused. Since the crash, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has provided over $80,000 in emergency assistance for temporary housing, uniforms, and items needed for immediate living. Yet, most of the families affected have said that their emotional recovery has just begun and many have sought therapy as they live with post-traumatic stress.
Living under an active flight path
The closeness to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport has raised anxiety for residents, despite federal officials stating that air travel statistics in the U.S. continues to be very safe. The crash involved passengers from New Jersey, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash; a preliminary report will be provided in a few weeks.
Mental health professionals say that visible and frequent exposure to aircraft can help or hinder recovery from trauma. For many in Murphy Canyon, having an aircraft fly overhead creates overwhelming anxiety and fear. “We hold our breath now every time a plane goes over,” said survivor Srujana McCarty, who said their family barely escaped the fire.
