East San Jose residents and elected officials are renewing calls to close Reid-Hillview Airport after two recent airplane crashes stemming from the facility. Community advocacy group SOMOS Mayfair organized a news conference at Hillview Park on Friday, where residents shared their concerns. The incidents included an Oct. 16 crash due to a landing equipment issue at the airport and another on Oct. 17 on Capitol Expressway, which injured three people aboard a small plane that had taken off from Reid-Hillview.
These events have intensified long-standing concerns within a neighborhood where residents have advocated for years to close the county-owned airport. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted in 2020 to begin planning for the airport's closure and repurposing of its property. However, federal obligations mean that 2031 is the earliest possible closure date.
Dilza Gonzalez, an East San Jose resident and organizer with SOMOS Mayfair, stated at the news conference that families are still waiting for answers about what will happen between now and the planned closure. Maria Reyes, who has lived about a block and a half from the airport for 55 years, has spent more than two decades advocating for its closure. She envisions the 179-acre property being replaced by a community center, more green space, and areas for children to play.
Reyes and Gonzalez also highlighted the airport’s potential negative health effects, including aircraft noise and lead exposure. Santa Clara County previously restricted the use of leaded aviation fuel at its airports in 2021, following concerns about children’s exposure to lead near Reid-Hillview. Despite this, Reyes noted observations of "brown clouds" due to continuous airplane traffic. She also noted that beyond the crashes, the continuous noise from planes is a significant concern.
Community advocates are urging county officials to implement immediate measures to protect families while the airport remains operational. A 2022 analysis of federal data found Reid-Hillview had 11 crashes over the previous decade, though its crash total was not higher than that of some comparable California airports. Alum Rock Union School District Trustee Corina Herrera-Loera stressed that 2031 marks a deadline for closure, but not for ensuring the protection of children and families.
District 2 County Supervisor Betty Duong, who represents East San Jose, confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the Oct. 17 crash on Capitol Expressway. She noted that the county has not yet received findings from either agency and that the transportation safety board would communicate immediately if critical issues within the county’s purview needed addressing. San Jose State University spokesperson Michelle Smith McDonald clarified that the plane involved in the Oct. 17 crash was owned and operated by Flying20, an independent flying club that includes some university alumni, employees, and students but is not operated by the university. SJSU was not aware of anyone affiliated with the university being aboard the aircraft. Scott Riddle, interim director of Santa Clara County Airports, was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, the county has moved into the next phase of planning for the airport property’s future. Supervisor Duong stated that county officials are finalizing bids to hire a vendor who will develop cost estimates and identify potential barriers and opportunities for projects outlined in the 2020 Reid-Hillview Vision Plan. Duong mentioned that her predecessor, former Supervisor Cindy Chavez, earmarked approximately $300,000 for this planning process, and residents will continue to provide input, though not every proposed project is expected to move forward.
Reyes also shared that residents have experienced health problems, such as cancer, depression, and other medical issues, which they worry may be connected to conditions in the neighborhood. These concerns align with broader health disparities affecting Latino residents in Santa Clara County, many of whom reside in East San Jose and South County. A 2025 county health assessment documented disparities in areas including mental health and life expectancy, leading the board of supervisors to declare a public health crisis for Latino residents. This assessment examined broader health needs and did not establish that the airport caused the specific health problems. Reyes conveyed the community’s sentiment, stating, "My community doesn’t want promises anymore. We want action."
