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Friends mourn researcher piloting plane that disappeared off San Diego coast

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Friends mourn researcher piloting plane that disappeared off San Diego coast


SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KGTV) — Several days after a small plane disappeared hundreds of miles off the San Diego coastline, friends and colleagues are paying tribute to the researcher who was piloting the aircraft.

“I would call him my best friend. I’m numb, completely numb,” said David Gvalia, a friend and former colleague of pilot Tsotne Javakhishvili.

The single-engine Cessna TTX took off from Ramona on Sunday afternoon. After being cleared to approach Montgomery-Gibbs Airport, the pilot stopped responding to the tower.

The aircraft traveled southwest of San Diego for approximately 500 miles before it disappeared from radar. Search crews reportedly combed the area for some 24 hours before the search was called off.

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“It’s devastating. I still can’t believe it,” Gvalia said.

Aviation experts believe the plane was likely on autopilot after the pilot became incapacitated. It’s believed the pilot was the only one on board.

Scripps Research CEO Peter Schultz, who owns the plane, confirmed the pilot was a friend and experienced aviator.

In a Facebook post, a university in the country of Georgia, the University of Georgia, confirmed the pilot was 67-year-old Javakhishvili, Director of the Institute of Synthetic Biology. He had lived and worked in the San Diego area since the 1990s. Javakhishvili previously worked at the Scripps Research Institute and collaborated with Schultz on genetic research projects.

“Everybody loved him. Everybody respected him. He was larger than life, extremely smart and extremely kind,” Gvalia said.

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Friends say Javakhishvili often spoke about his love of the ocean and flying, which was his passion. Photos show a smiling Javakhishvili sharing that passion, flying with his friends. He was always willing to take friends out on flights.

“His exit from his life is poetic for numerous reasons because, as hard as it is for me to accept it, he died doing the thing he loved doing,” Gvalia said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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San Diego, CA

San Diego begins installing parking meters in San Ysidro business district

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San Diego begins installing parking meters in San Ysidro business district


SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The City of San Diego is beginning to install 286 metered parking spaces this week in downtown San Ysidro in an effort to increase parking turnover, it was announced Thursday.

To develop the plan, city leaders worked with the San Ysidro business community. Revenue collected from the meters is reserved for transportation, parking and safety improvements in San Ysidro.

“Feeding parking meters feeds neighborhood repairs, and we can’t wait to get to work for the San Ysidro community,” said Naomi Chavez, interim director of the city’s Transportation Department. “This new parking zone will bring long overdue change that will help support local business activity and generate revenue that will be reinvested directly into improving neighborhood quality of life in San Ysidro.”

Crews began preparing the bases for the meters last week and installation work is expected to last through June. According to the city, these will be multi-space meter kiosks and drivers should be aware that they will need to go to the nearest kiosk to pay for parking since there won’t be a meter at each space.

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Metered parking goes into effect on July 1 and will be enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The parking rate is $2.50 an hour, with a maximum time limit of four hours.

City-led parking studies determined vehicles were parking on the streets of the neighborhood for hours or days at a time, making street parking for the area’s businesses scarce.

Drivers who customarily use free street parking when traveling across the border to Mexico are encouraged to use “one of the many paid off-street parking lots in the area,” a city statement read.

“The findings [of the parking study] clearly demonstrate the need for action. High parking occupancy on unregulated segments, along with data showing that 37% of vehicles exceed the existing two-hour limit and an average parking duration of over five hours, indicate that current conditions reduce turnover and limit access for local businesses and visitors,” wrote Alfredo Ripa, president of the San Ysidro Community Economic Development Corporation. “The proposed introduction of approximately 286 metered spaces, along with better signage, clearer designations and continued enforcement, represents a thoughtful and data-driven approach to improving parking availability and supporting economic activity in the community.”

Areas where the meter kiosks will be installed include:

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— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Border Village Road to Camino De La Plaza (both sides);

— Border Village Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard (north) to East San Ysidro Boulevard (south), (both sides);

— Front Street between Border Village Road to end of cul-de-sac (south side);

— Bolton Hall Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (south side);

— Louisiana Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to end of cul-de- sac (south side);

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— Virginia Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (both sides); and

— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Willow Road and East Park Avenue (south side).





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San Diego, CA

San Diego County Sheriff’s Office seeks information on missing Poway man

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San Diego County Sheriff’s Office seeks information on missing Poway man


POWAY, Calif. (KGTV) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is asking for any information regarding the whereabouts of a missing Poway man.

59-year-old William Clayton Miller was reported missing by his sister, who last saw him on March 2, 2026.

Miller’s car was later found at the Blue Sky Ecological Preserve in the City of Poway, where it sat for several weeks, according to authorities.

On Saturday, June 13, around 80 Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers and detectives from the Major Crimes Division conducted a search of the Lake Poway area and found nothing of significance.

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This is the second coordinated search by the Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue teams.

Miller is described as a white male adult, 6 feet 0 inches tall, 210 pounds, bald, of medium build, with brown eyes and white hair.

Miller has been categorized as a voluntary missing adult and is not known to have any life-threatening medical conditions, nor does he require life- sustaining medications.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of William Clayton Miller is urged to contact the Major Crimes Division at 858‑285‑6330.





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San Diego, CA

‘Great feeling’ for Iraqis in El Cajon as they celebrate competing in first World Cup since 1986

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‘Great feeling’ for Iraqis in El Cajon as they celebrate competing in first World Cup since 1986




‘Great feeling’ for local Iraqis as they celebrate return to World Cup






















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