At least three people reportedly died in Thursday’s fiery jet crash in a San Diego neighborhood of Navy families.
Sound Talent Group said three of its employees were killed in the crash. Among them were the San Diego music agency’s co-founder, Dave Shapiro, 42, who reportedly owned the plane and was a pilot with more than a decade’s experience flying.
Also reportedly on the plane was Daniel Williams, 39, the former drummer for the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. Williams’ father, Larry Williams, told TMZ that the family is certain his son was on the plane and died in the crash along with everyone else on the aircraft. But he added the family hasn’t received official confirmation from authorities.
There were six people on the plane, the FAA said Thursday evening in a news release. The FAA reported there were at least two confirmed fatalities, but added it was working to determine the total number.
Authorities said all of the fatalities from the crash were on the plane.
No one on the plane survived, Sound Talent Group told Billboard. Others on the Cessna 550 included STG employees and passengers who have not been identified, the music agency said.
“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,” a spokesperson for Sound Talent Group said in the Billboard story. “Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”
Before takeoff, Daniel Williams posted a photo of himself inside the plane on social media.
On Instagram, The Devil Wears Prada posted a heart symbol, followed by: “no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” It appeared with a photo of Williams behind the drums.
In the San Diego neighborhood, eight people not on the plane were injured, the FAA and San Diego authorities said. Two people were treated for minor injuries and released at the scene, and six others got medical attention.
The Cessna 550 Citation II crashed into a house during foggy weather at 3:45 a.m. Thursday in the 3100 block of Salmon Road, the FAA said. Authorities said the plane apparently clipped a power line about 2 miles from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The crash occurred in the Tierrasanta neighborhood, part of the larger Murphy Canyon area.
The 47-foot-long jet, which is designed to carry up to 10 people including the pilot, took off at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. The plane refueled on the ground in Wichita, Kan., before continuing to San Diego.
In addition to the destruction of one house, the crash damaged 10 to 15 homes in the area populated by Navy personnel and their families on military land, authorities said. Jet fuel hit the street, leading to fires that burned all the cars on both sides of the street.
