News Summary
In August 2023, a private jet narrowly avoided colliding with a Southwest Airlines plane at San Diego International Airport, sparking major safety concerns. The near-miss, attributed to distracted air traffic controllers, highlighted vulnerabilities in air traffic control processes. The incident comes amidst a series of aviation accidents, amplifying the urgency for enhanced safety measures in the industry. Investigations continue as authorities work to address the issues revealed by the National Transportation Safety Board’s report on this alarming incident.
San Diego – A serious aviation incident occurred in August 2023, when a private jet nearly crashed into a Southwest Airlines plane on a runway at San Diego International Airport. The event has raised alarming questions about air safety, especially in the wake of recent accidents involving aircraft, including a tragic crash that resulted in multiple fatalities.
The near miss incident, as detailed in a final report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), was primarily caused by distractions experienced by air traffic controllers in the control tower. Both the controller responsible for aircraft landings and their supervisor made significant poor judgment calls that diverted their attention from monitoring landings.
According to the NTSB report, the airport’s automated tracking system had initially alerted the controller about a potential conflict between the aircraft. This warning prompted the private jet to pull up and circle the area before landing safely, narrowly avoiding disaster.
On the day of the incident, approximately 6 p.m., the controller overseeing landings at San Diego International Airport failed to manage the situation effectively. This was partly due to their distraction from a call to correct the altitude of a different, unrelated plane. Post-incident interviews revealed the controller acknowledged their error in handling the situation. Meanwhile, the supervisor was occupied troubleshooting a malfunctioning printer instead of promptly switching to a backup printer during the critical landing operation.
The airport is equipped with sophisticated surface radar systems designed to track both aircraft and ground vehicles, which greatly enhance safety measures at the facility. However, in this instance, the distractions faced by air traffic personnel highlight potential vulnerabilities in air traffic control processes.
This near miss is part of a broader pattern of aviation incidents that have raised considerable concerns about safety. Recently, a separate incident at San Diego International Airport involved a small jet whose front landing gear collapsed during takeoff, leading to a temporary closure of the airport for air traffic operations. No injuries were reported in this particular event, although it led to a ground stop that affected over 100 flights while crews worked to remove the disabled aircraft from the runway. The airport’s arrival and departure status page was also offline during this ordeal, causing further complications.
In addition to these near misses, a string of fatal accidents heightens anxiety within the aviation community. Notably, on June 9, 2025, a small plane crash occurred in San Diego, resulting in the death of all six individuals onboard. Those killed included three employees of Sound Talent Group, and the plane’s owner and pilot was identified as co-founder Dave Shapiro. The crash site, which impacted several homes and vehicles in the Murphy Canyon area, led to a significant presence of jet fuel in the vicinity. Thankfully, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported among civilians on the ground, although eight individuals required treatment for smoke inhalation and other minor injuries.
Another distressing event on the same date involved a Cessna 414 that crashed shortly after takeoff, also resulting in six fatalities. This plane went down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, following a distress signal indicating difficulties with maintaining heading and altitude. The aircraft was initially registered to a nutritional supplements company but had transitioned to private ownership in 2023. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a coordinated search operation in response to the crash.
As authorities continue to investigate these incidents, preliminary findings and full reports from the NTSB are expected to take time to finalize. The emphasis on improving aviation safety remains a critical concern for the industry and the traveling public alike, especially as these recent occurrences underscore the potential dangers associated with air travel.
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Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego
- Wikipedia: Aviation Safety
- Today
- Google Search: San Diego International Airport incidents
- The Guardian
- Google Scholar: San Diego plane crash
- Fox 5 San Diego
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Aviation incidents
- CNBC
- Google News: aviation safety
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
