6 People Killed after Small Plane Crashes Off San Diego Coast
Six people have died after a small plane crashed into the ocean off the coast of San Diego on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The U.S. Coast Guard received a report of the twin-engine Cessna 414 crashing about three miles west of Point Loma at approximately 12:45pm. According to the Coast Guard, a debris field was found in an area of the ocean where water was estimated to be about 200 feet deep.
Multiple agencies, included air and marine Coast Guard crews, U.S. Customs and Border Protection crews, San Diego lifeguard crews, and San Diego Harbor Police boat crews, worked together to look for survivors Sunday afternoon and into the evening. The Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter crew remained on the scene overnight and continued the search; helicopter crews rejoined the search at first light.
Unfortunately, no survivors were found.
On Monday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the pilot and five passengers were killed in the crash which destroyed the plane. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash).
According to details made available by the FAA and a flight tracking webpage, the plane took off from the San Diego International Airport at 12:24pm and was headed to Pheonix. The plane reportedly crashed just a few minutes after takeoff, at around 12:30pm. Audio recordings of the moments prior to the crash contain air traffic control telling the pilot to quickly gain altitude and the pilot struggling to do so; the pilot can be heard shouting “mayday, mayday, mayday” just seconds before impact.
The Cessna had the tail number N414BA which is registered to Optimal Health Systems, a company based in Pima, Arizona. The founder of the company, however, stated that they previously owned the plane before selling it and transferring ownership to private individuals back in 2023.
This incident comes just over two weeks after another Cessna plane crashed into a residential area in San Diego, killing all on board.
Aviation accidents, including plane crashes and helicopter accidents can have catastrophic results (often fatal harm). In cases in which there are survivors, they may experience permanent and disabling physical injuries, as well as life-altering psychological harm. If you or a member of your family suffered harm in a plane crash, it is important that you seek legal help as soon as possible. You could have the right to sue and receive compensation.
If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, contact the Downtown L.A. Law Group today. Our lawyers are ready to fight for your rights to get justice.
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Plane crashes can happen for a number of reasons, including but not limited to the following:
- Poor weather conditions, including poor visibility
- Pilot error, including not performing pre-flight checks, choosing to fly in unsafe weather, knowingly operating an aircraft with mechanical issues, etc.
- Defective aircraft, leading to failures mid-flight (defects in design, manufacturing, etc.)
- Mechanical issues caused by delayed repairs, a lack of maintenance, or negligent maintenance
- And more
Pilots and other occupants of any aircraft that crashes can potentially sustain significant injuries. Harm could occur because of the force of the impact, blunt force trauma, injuries from damaged parts entering the passenger compartment (such as helicopter blades entering the passenger cabin during a crash), fires ignited by fuel, and more.
These injuries could potentially include the following:
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, concussions, skull fractures, and more
- Neck injuries and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, leading to paralysis or quadriplegia
- Hip injuries, pelvic injuries, and shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Dislocations, fractures, sprains, and strains
- Burn injuries
- Severed limbs and crushing injuries
- And more
In addition to physical harm, survivors could be left dealing with extensive psychological harm, including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, panic, and more.
No matter the specific harm that you or a member of your family suffered in a plane crash, it is important that you understand that you could have the right to file a lawsuit. Do not hesitate to reach out to our team as soon as possible to learn more about your legal options.
Can I File a Lawsuit?Yes, you could have the right to file a lawsuit. Since the incident remains under investigation, liability is still unclear. However, the families of the deceased victims could have grounds to file wrongful death claims against different parties or entities, including but not limited to the following:
- The plane manufacturer
- The plane owner or operator (both if these are different entities)
- The pilot (or the pilot’s estate)
- The maintenance or repair companies
If you are unsure of your right to pursue a claim, please do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team as soon as possible. Our experienced plane crash lawsuit lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Can I Recover Compensation after a Cessna Crash?Yes, you could be entitled to receive compensation. Some of the different categories of compensation available for recovery could include the following: medical expenses, lost income, loss of financial support, pain and suffering, punitive damages, wrongful death benefits (loss of consortium and burial/funeral costs), and legal fees. Here at our law firm, our team are more than ready to fight for your right to recover the maximum payout available. Whether our team needs to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial to reach a verdict, our team is ready to go above it all to secure the recovery that you are owed. Contact us today to learn more about the compensation that you could receive.
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations or a deadline to sue. This deadline determines the total length of time that claimants have to file their claims. If claimants do not file their claims on time, they can lose their right to sue entirely. In California, specifically, personal injury claims (including wrongful death claims) are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that claimants will only have two years to file their claims. If you find yourself unsure of the total length of time that you have to file your claim, contact us today.
The Downtown L.A. Law Group is Ready to Help You!Our lawyers are committed to fighting for your rights after Cessna plane crash and help you reach justice. If a member of your family was killed in the plane crash mentioned above, you could have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Do not hesitate to reach out to our experts as soon as possible. Our team has decades of experience and are ready to guide you every step of the way. We are committed to remaining accessible to all, so we offer free legal services. These include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our team will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns, ensuring that you have access to all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim. To schedule a free case review, contact us today.
Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will not be required to pay any upfront legal fees for our legal services. In addition, our law firm works on a strict contingency basis, meaning that you will not be required to pay anything at all if your lawsuit is not successful. If you do not win, you will not pay any legal expenses. Do not hesitate to reach out to our law firm as soon as possible to explore the options available to you.
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