Two dead as jet crashes in San Diego
A small civilian aircraft crash in San Diego, California, resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to eight others. The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time when a private Cessna 550 jet crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighborhood while approaching Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport under dense fog conditions. The crash ignited fires that damaged or destroyed approximately 15 homes and several vehicles, prompting the evacuation of over 100 residents.
Among the deceased were Dave Shapiro, 42, co-founder of the music talent agency Sound Talent Group, and Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. Both were aboard the flight, which had departed from Teterboro, New Jersey, with a refueling stop in Wichita, Kansas. Shapiro, who owned the aircraft, held a pilot’s license.
San Diego Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy reported that authorities arrived at the scene shortly before 4 a.m. and found one home and multiple cars on fire. They also discovered a clipped power line, which will be part of the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The neighborhood is home to about 2,300 military families associated with local military installations.
Preliminary investigations suggest the plane may have struck power lines before crashing, although the exact cause remains under investigation. The crash has significantly impacted the local community, particularly military families, with many displaced and homes destroyed. Emergency services responded quickly, and no serious injuries were reported among residents.
Sound Talent Group expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their colleagues, stating, "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy."
