A private jet crashed in a San Diego suburb, killing six people including musician Daniel Williams and agent Dave Shapiro as the aircraft, a Cessna 550, went down around 3:45am Thursday in Murphy Canyon, destroying one home and damaging 10 others while Williams, ex-drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, posted from the cockpit hours before the crash and Shapiro, the plane’s owner, had over 15 years of flying experience and was a certified instructor.
Final Social Media Posts Before Take-Off
Williams posted images from the plane cockpit and wrote, “Here we gooooo,” and in another post, he captioned, “Hey. Hey … you … look at me … I’m the (co)pilot now,” as he also tagged Shapiro in one post showing the aircraft’s control panel with the posts matching the aircraft that later crashed, tail number N666DS.
Figure 1: Instagram post by Daniel Williams before takeoff
Flight Route and Timeline
The Cessna 550 departed New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport at 11:15pm on Wednesday night then refuelled in Wichita, Kansas before continuing west towards California as tracking data showed the aircraft was headed for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego but the crash occurred just two miles from the intended destination.
Impact on Residential Area
The crash set 15 homes and several cars alight in Murphy Canyon, a suburb for military families while eight residents sustained injuries with one person hospitalised and others treated on-site as about 100 people evacuated the area in the early morning following the explosion.
Figure 2: Several houses and cars caught fire in the plane crash
Witness Accounts of the Tragedy
Local resident Christopher Moore told the Associated Press that he woke to a loud bang then saw smoke and fled with his wife and children before seeing a car on fire in the street while a nearby marine told Fox News he heard a “strange whistling wheezing noise” followed by a loud “boom.”
Response From Authorities and Investigators
San Diego’s Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy said, “There’s plane everywhere,” explaining that the aircraft’s size and speed caused widespread debris across the neighbourhood as NTSB investigator Elliot Simpson said the plane struck two power lines before crashing and he confirmed debris was found under the lines with one wing landing on a street adding the investigation is ongoing and the cause remains under review.
Confirmation of Deaths and Tributes
The Devil Wears Prada confirmed Williams’ death on Instagram, sharing photos and writing, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever,” as Williams played with the Christian metal band for more than 10 years before departing in 2016 while Sound Talent Group, co-founded by Shapiro, confirmed the deaths in a statement saying, “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,” and adding, “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,” as the company confirmed three employees died but did not name the others.
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Industry Reactions to the Loss
Music executive Terrance Coughlin wrote on X, “Rest in Peace Dave Shapiro, Daniel Williams, and everyone on that flight,” adding, “Some of my very first shows were booked through Dave,” and continuing, “I had a handful of shows with Daniel, always a pleasure to see him play. Gone way too soon.”
Background of Victims
Shapiro was an agent for bands like Sum 41, Story of the Year, and Pierce the Veil as he also founded Velocity Aviation and taught flying for more than 15 years while Williams, a founding member of The Devil Wears Prada, was part of the band until 2016 featuring in the band’s early Christian metal music and touring extensively.
Details From the Crash Scene
The crash scattered aircraft debris throughout the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood with flames engulfing cars and smoke visible across the residential area as power lines downed in the crash contributed to the fire’s spread.
Federal and Local Investigations Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB are leading the crash investigation confirming six people were on board and all are presumed dead while NTSB teams are collecting fragments and reviewing flight data for possible causes.
Aviation Safety and Weather Conditions
The crash occurred in heavy fog which may have affected visibility and such weather conditions are under review as part of the official inquiry as Simpson stated it was too early to confirm if fog or power lines caused the crash.
Ongoing Developments and Community Impact
Authorities continue to clear debris and assist affected residents while evacuated families are receiving temporary shelter and support from local agencies as the neighbourhood remains cordoned off and the investigation continues.
