San Diego Plane Crash Kills Six Amid Runway Light Failures, Fog

A small private plane crashed into a residential neighborhood near San Diego's Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, killing all six people on board, including music executive Dave Shapiro and former drummer Daniel Williams. The crash occurred in heavy fog, with the pilot attempting to land despite runway lights and the airport's weather alert system being inoperative due to a power surge. Although the FAA had issued a notice about the runway lights being out of service, it is unclear whether the pilot had checked it. Audio recordings revealed the pilot was aware of poor weather, considered diverting, but ultimately decided to proceed with the landing. Investigations are ongoing to determine the causes, focusing on pilot qualifications, aircraft maintenance, and environmental factors. The crash also caused fires that damaged homes and vehicles, prompting the evacuation of over 100 residents, though no fatalities occurred on the ground.