A small private jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday morning, killing all six people on board and igniting fires that damaged at least 15 homes. The Cessna 550 Citation, owned by music agent Dave Shapiro, went down at around 3:45 a.m. local time in the Murphy Canyon area near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. The impact created a massive debris field and forced the evacuation of approximately 100 residents. Eight people on the ground suffered injuries, with one hospitalized for further treatment.
Federal investigators said the aircraft struck power lines before crashing amid dense fog and low visibility. The pilot did not report any problems or declare an emergency before the crash, and officials are still determining whether the plane was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that the jet descended below the published glideslope as it attempted to land, and both runway approach lights and the airport’s automated weather reporting system were not operational at the time.
Among the victims were Dave Shapiro, 42, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, booking assistants Emma Huke and Kendall Fortner, professional photographer Celina Kenyon, software engineer Dominic Damian, and Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the band The Devil Wears Prada. Tributes poured in from the music industry and the victims’ families, with Sound Talent Group expressing devastation over the loss of their colleagues and friends.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days. The incident left a trail of destruction, with burned vehicles, scattered debris, and several homes set alight, but no serious injuries were reported among local residents. The tragedy has deeply affected the San Diego community and the broader music industry.
