Tragic Plane Crash in San Diego Claims Lives of Music Agency Employees

San Diego’s music agency, Sound Talent Group, announced on Thursday that three of its employees, including co-founder Dave Shapiro, tragically died when a private plane crashed in a residential area.

Dave Shapiro, identified as the plane’s owner and a licensed pilot, also ran a flight school and a record label, according to his work profile.

The identities of the other two victims have not been disclosed. In a statement, the agency expressed its grief: “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founders, colleagues, and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and all those affected by today’s tragedy.”

Sound Talent Group is known for representing various artists, including the American pop group Hanson and singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton.

Shapiro’s record label, Velocity Records, had signed several bands, including other American rock groups and some heavy metal acts.

Authorities initially reported two fatalities, but it remains unclear how many lives were lost as the FAA confirmed that six people were aboard the plane.

The accident occurred during foggy conditions early Thursday, as the jet crashed into a neighborhood owned by the US Navy, causing significant damage to at least one home and numerous parked vehicles. Eyewitnesses noted that the plane knocked down a power line before crashing into a house.

After the crash, several individuals required medical attention due to smoke inhalation, with reports indicating some residents were injured while trying to escape.

The scene was chaotic, with at least one home being engulfed in flames and partially collapsing. Around ten houses faced damage, and multiple cars in the vicinity were burned to shells.

A local resident recounted how she awoke to a loud noise and saw a fireball. She managed to grab her children and pets before evacuating the area.

Reports indicated that five family members were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, while another person was treated for injuries incurred while escaping through a window. Others suffered minor injuries at the scene.

Following the crash, about 100 residents were evacuated, and police established roadblocks in surrounding streets. Jet fuel was reported to be spilling down Salmon Street, and a strong smell lingered in the air as firefighters battled the flames from the wreckage.

One police chief described the scene as “pretty scary” with fires occurring simultaneously and fuel flowing down the street.

The aircraft, which Shapiro piloted, had departed from a New Jersey airport and made a stop in Wichita, Kansas, for refueling before ultimately heading to San Diego. Witnesses indicated that visibility was severely limited due to the fog at the time of the crash.

Individuals living nearby shared harrowing accounts of the event, and officials noted that the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation into the incident.

In light of the foggy weather, legal experts suggest that the aircraft would have been operating under instrument flight rules, commonly used during low visibility, yet pilots must still be able to see the runway at lower altitudes.

This is not the first incident of its kind in San Diego’s history, with other crashes in the past resulting in loss of life and significant property damage.

The story has been updated to correct the name of a local councilman. Additional reporting was contributed by various journalists across the country.