Six people have tragically died after a light aircraft crashed into a residential area of San Diego, California, United States on Thursday, authorities confirmed.
The Cessna 550 Citation, registered to music agent Dave Shapiro, collided with a power line before crashing at 3:47, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). “The pilot and passengers were fatally injured,” stated NTSB investigator Dan Baker during a press conference on Friday, confirming that no one on the ground was seriously hurt.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office identified three of the victims as Dave Shapiro, 42, Emma Huke, 25, and Celina Kenyon, 36.
Shapiro was co-founder of Sound Talent Group, representing musical artists such as Sum 41 and Vanessa Carlton. “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends. Our thoughts are with their families and everyone affected,” Sound Talent Group said in a statement.
Around 100 people were evacuated from the neighbourhood following the crash, which caused a fire and sparked panic. Ten houses were damaged by debris, with one roof severely damaged.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. The NTSB reported that the pilot had not conveyed any issues to air traffic control or declared an emergency. “We are trying to ascertain if the aircraft was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder,” Dan Baker added.
