A call to close Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose intensified following a small plane crash in the area Friday.
Neighbors said the crash is just another example why the airport needs to close as soon as possible.
"People are petrified that a plane will land on their homes, their families and their children," said San Jose resident Maria Reyes.
A group of more than 50 neighbors echoed those concerns Saturday night as they rallied to demand for the closure of the airport.
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They said it's not just the crash that concerns them, but also lead contamination after a study commissioned by county supervisors showed kids in the area had high levels in their blood.
"That lead study demonstrated that children living within a 1.5 mile (radius) of the airport had a high rate of lead in their blood at an elevation that matched the contaminated water in Flint, Michigan," explained Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez.
Those fighting to save Reid Hillview said it's vital to the aviation community and can be used for emergency services during a disaster. They also said they've taken steps to make it safer.
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County officials recently stopped providing leaded fuel to reduce lead contamination in the area, but neighbors said that hasn't stopped pilots from fueling up elsewhere with leaded fuel and flying over their homes.
Chavez plans to go to Washington, D.C., for a congressional hearing on the impact of leaded aviation fuel, and hopes to put pressure on the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Aviation Administration to shut down Reid Hillview sooner.
After the county supervisors voted to stop providing federal grant money to the airport, it is now slated to close in 2031.
But neighbors said they can't wait that long.
"They think they can keep it open until 2031 with planes flying over our heads poisoning our children?" said resident Lupe Rosales.
