A Cessna 172 flipped onto its roof at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, on Saturday 7 November 2026 after taxiing behind a United Airlines jet powering up to enter the runway. The instructor and student pilot on board were not injured, and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating.

It happened at about 2.30pm local time. The small aircraft, operated by the Orange County Flight Center, had just landed and was passing behind United Airlines Flight 2611, a Boeing 737 bound for Chicago, when the jet increased power to pull onto the runway. The blast sent the 1,400-pound Cessna rolling, according to a report from the pilot inside. Instructor Jason Ryu said that as they started to turn left, they felt sudden, strong airflow and lost control completely, while student Kunal Gawli said they were scared and did not know what was happening. Both men were left hanging from their seatbelts as other pilots radioed for help. Surveillance video shows the plane tilting up on its nose and left wing before flipping entirely over. It came to rest upside down on the airport's ACI Jet ramp before emergency crews used a crane to return it upright. The United 737 landed safely in Chicago two minutes early, and the airline declined to comment.

What caused the Cessna to flip over?

The FAA said the Cessna was blown over while taxiing behind United Flight 2611, and the flight school blames jet blast from the departing airliner. Airport officials initially cited high winds, and the fire authority declined to confirm whether weather or jet blast caused the overturn. The FAA is investigating and has not released a final determination. An initial FAA report classifies the damage as substantial.

Frequently asked questions

Was anyone hurt? No. The instructor and student were both uninjured, and no other injuries were reported.

What is jet blast? Jet blast is the powerful flow of exhaust air pushed backwards when a jet engine runs at high power. It can lift or overturn a light aircraft taxiing too close behind.

Has jet blast flipped a plane before? Yes. In a 2020 incident at San Luis Obispo, California, an American Eagle regional jet doing an engine test overturned a hangar and damaged several light aircraft.