San Diego Neighbors Rush Outside After Plane Falls and Streets Fill With Strange Smell
San Diego Plane Crash: A Neighborhood in Shock
On a quiet Thursday morning in San Diego, something very scary happened. A small plane crashed into a neighborhood called Murphy Canyon. The accident happened on May 22. Many people were sleeping when the crash took place around 3:45 a.m. The loud sound woke up families. Some people ran out of their homes because there was fire and smoke everywhere.
Six people were on the small plane, a Cessna 550. The crash made a huge mess. Firefighters rushed to help. They worked hard to get people out of their homes. Dan Eddy, the assistant Fire Department chief, said at a news meeting, "We have jet fuel all over the place. Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now."
The crash made many homes catch fire. Some cars were burning too. There was a lot of smoke and a strong smell of fuel. Police and fire crews quickly closed off streets. They made sure everyone left the area to stay safe.
Remembering the People Lost in the Crash
Very sadly, no one on the plane survived. The people on board were friends and coworkers. One of them was Dave Shapiro. Dave was a music agent. He helped bands like Sum 41 and Story of the Year. He also loved flying and was a flight instructor for over 15 years. Dave owned the airplane that crashed. He started a company called Sound Talent Group.
Sound Talent Group was very sad about losing Dave. They told the BBC, "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time."
Two other people who worked with Dave were on the plane, Kendall Fortner and Emma Huke. They both worked as booking assistants. They were also lost in the crash. The company said they lost three employees that day.
Another person on board was Daniel Williams. Daniel was a drummer and played in a band called The Devil Wears Prada. He was friends with Dave and other people on the flight. Daniel's old bandmates wrote a message online. They said, "No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever."
More Friends and Loved Ones Aboard
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The other people on the flight were Dominic Damian, a good friend of Dave, and Celina Kenyon, a photographer. Sadly, everyone on board the plane died in the crash. All their families and friends were very sad.
Before the crash, Daniel Williams posted on Instagram. He took pictures outside the plane and even shared a photo from inside the cockpit. He wrote, "Hey. Hey … you … look at me … I’m the (co)pilot now," and also, "Here we gooooo." Daniel tagged Dave Shapiro in his posts. No one knew that something so terrible was about to happen.
A Community Comes Together
Neighbors heard a loud noise and saw fire in the night. One man, Ben McCarty, lived in one of the homes that was hit. He told ABC's KGTV, "All I could see was fire. The roof of the house was still on fire. You could see the night sky from our living room." Ben and his wife were lucky to escape. Their house was destroyed, but they were safe.
Eight people who lived nearby had to go to the hospital. Most had breathed in smoke, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The police chief, Scott Wahl, saw the crash site. He said, "I can’t quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once. It was pretty horrific to see." He also said it was "a bit of a miracle" that no one on the ground died.
Why Did the Plane Crash?
Experts are still trying to figure out why the crash happened. Dan Baker from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) talked about some problems that night. The weather was very foggy. It was hard to see anything. Also, the weather alert system at the airport was not working. There was a power surge, and the runway lights were off too.
Instead, the pilot got weather information from a different airport nearby. It was still very dark, and the fog made it even harder for the pilot to land. The special lights that help pilots see the runway were off. The pilot had to try to land without them.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA crash investigator, talked to PBS. He said, "This accident has all the earmarks of a classic attempt to approach an airport in really bad weather and poor visibility. And there were other airports that the crew could have gone to." Jeff also said the pilot had been flying all night, and maybe he was tired.
The plane crashed into a house, destroyed it, and damaged 10 other homes. The crash caused about 15 homes and some cars to catch fire. Many people lost their homes, but most were safe.
How the City Helped After the Crash
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Police and fire crews worked all morning to help people. They went door-to-door to make sure everyone was safe. They told neighbors to leave their homes if it was dangerous. The San Diego Police Department posted on Twitter, telling people to stay away from the area. They wrote, "Plane crash in Tierrasanta: Evacs still in place for Salmon, Sample & Sculpin St. If you smell jet fuel or find debris, call 619-531-2000. SB Santo Rd closed at Aero Dr. Evac site: Miller Elementary, 4343 Shields St."
One neighbor talked to CBS. He said, "As soon as I saw a police officer and he told me about like there's some big incident going on, instantly my mind went to - 'I have to get my family out of here'." He didn't care about his things. He only wanted his family to be safe.
Firefighters spent a long time putting out all the fires. They checked every house for people and made sure no one was left behind. Some streets stayed closed all day.
Music Friends Say Goodbye
Many musicians knew Dave Shapiro and Daniel Williams. Dave helped many bands like Eve 6, Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, Set it Off, Silverstein, Parkway Drive, and Story of the Year. His company, Sound Talent Group, shared how sad they were to lose their friends. They said, "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time."
Daniel Williams was remembered by his old bandmates from The Devil Wears Prada. They wrote, "No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever." Daniel loved playing music and making people happy.
Fog and Power Outages: What Went Wrong
The NTSB is not sure exactly why the plane crashed. But they know it was very foggy that night. The lights on the runway were off because of a power surge. The weather alert system was not working. The pilot did not have all the information he needed to land safely.
The plane was supposed to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. But with the fog and no runway lights, it was very hard. The pilot was experienced, but sometimes even skilled pilots have trouble in bad weather.
Jeff Guzzetti said, "This accident has all the earmarks of a classic attempt to approach an airport in really bad weather and poor visibility." He thought maybe the pilot and crew were tired from flying all night. There were other airports they could have tried, but the pilot tried to land there.
A Second Tragedy: Wisconsin School Shooting
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On Monday, December 16, something terrible happened in Wisconsin too. A 15-year-old student named Natalie 'Samantha' Rupnow brought a gun to Abundant Life Christian School. She started shooting. Two people died and six more were hurt. Two of the people hurt were very badly injured.
The police said that Natalie also died from her own gunshot wounds. They are still looking for a reason why she did this. Police Chief Shon Barnes said, "Identifying a motive is our top priority, but at this time it appears that the motive was a combination of factors." He asked anyone who knew Natalie to talk to the police.
Remembering the Victims in Wisconsin
The victims were a teacher named Erin Michelle West and a ninth-grade student named Rubi Patricia Vergara. Erin was 42 years old. Her students said she was "kind and caring" and "really loved her kids." Rubi was 14 years old. She loved art, singing, and playing the keyboard in her family’s worship band. She also loved animals, especially her cat Ginger and dog Coco.
Rubi’s family remembered her with love. They spoke about how much she enjoyed life and loved to smile.
A Possible Plan Stopped in California
After the shooting, a 20-year-old man named Alexander Paffendorf was arrested in California. The FBI said he had talked with Natalie about planning a mass shooting at government buildings. The FBI found messages between them. Part of an emergency order said, "During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted to the FBI agents that he told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun that he would target a government building."
The FBI took away any guns and ammunition he had. They made sure he could not get any more weapons. People saw agents leaving his apartment with a black gun box.
Helping People After Tragedy
After these sad events, many people needed help. The city set up places for people to go if they had to leave their homes. They helped families find new places to stay. Some people lost everything in the fires. Others were scared after what happened at the school.
If you have lost someone and want to talk to someone, you can call The Compassionate Friends at (877) 969-0010. They can help you feel better and talk about your feelings.
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What We Can Learn From These Events
These two tragedies made people feel sad and confused. But they also showed how people can help each other in hard times. Neighbors, firefighters, police, and friends all worked together. They helped people escape the fires. They comforted families who lost loved ones.
Experts are still looking for answers. They want to know why the plane crashed and what led to the school shooting. Police are talking to people who knew the victims and the people who caused the tragedies. They want to stop things like this from happening again.
Staying Safe in Emergencies
When something scary happens, the most important thing is to stay safe. Listen to police and fire crews. If you smell smoke or fuel, leave your home right away. If you see something dangerous at school, tell an adult or a teacher.
Sometimes, things happen that we cannot control. But we can help each other by being kind and looking out for our friends and families.
How We Can Help Each Other
After the plane crash, many people gave food, clothes, and money to families who lost their homes. After the school shooting, counselors talked to students to help them feel safe. People sent kind messages and cards to families who lost loved ones.
If you want to help, you can do small things. Write a nice note, share a smile, or just listen to someone who is sad. Even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Moving Forward Together
San Diego and Wisconsin will always remember the people lost in these tragedies. Their families and friends will never forget them. But the people who live there are strong. They will rebuild their homes and their schools. They will help each other heal.
No matter what happens, we can all be brave and caring. We can look out for each other and work to make our neighborhoods safe.
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If You Need Help
If you ever feel sad, scared, or worried, talk to someone you trust. It can be a parent, teacher, or friend. There are also hotlines you can call if you want to talk to someone who can help. You are not alone. There are always people who care about you and want to help.
Remembering the Heroes
Firefighters, police officers, and doctors worked hard during these emergencies. They saved lives and made sure no one was left behind. They are heroes in their communities. We can thank them by being good neighbors and helping each other.
Learning From the Past
Bad things can happen, but we can learn from them. We can make sure our homes have smoke alarms. We can practice what to do in emergencies. We can be kind to everyone at school and look out for each other.
When we work together, we can get through anything. Let's always remember to help, care, and stand by our friends and neighbors.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images, Instagram, Abundant Life Christian School
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Note: This article was written to help everyone understand what happened in San Diego and Wisconsin. If you have questions or want to talk more about this news, talk to someone you trust. Remember, it is okay to feel sad or scared. You are not alone.
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