NewsHail
25 May 2025
Investigators are looking into whether thick fog and broken lights at a San Diego airport helped cause a deadly plane crash.
A Cessna 550 crashed early Thursday in a neighborhood. It hit cars, burned down at least one house, and killed all six people on board.
Among the victims were a former drummer from the band The Devil Wears Prada and a well-known music agent.
The plane did not have a flight data recorder. This device could have given clues about what happened. Officials say they still don’t know why the crash happened.
At a news talk on Friday, NTSB investigator Dan Baker said the FBI is helping with the case. He said the plane hit power lines before crashing into homes in Murphy Canyon. This area is about two miles from Montgomery Field Airport, where the plane was trying to land.
At the time, the airport had two problems. One was with the weather station, which was not working due to a power issue. This station gives pilots updates on weather.
There was also a problem with runway lights. A notice had been sent to pilots warning them about this. The pilot was trying to land on that runway when the crash happened.
It was foggy at the time. Still, the pilot did not report any problems or call for help before the crash.
The plane may have had a voice recorder, but this is not yet confirmed.
The crash happened at about 3:45 a.m. local time. Around 100 people had to leave their homes. Eight people on the ground were hurt. One was taken to the hospital.
The NTSB will release a first report within 30 days. A full report may take 1 to 2 years.
Who Were the Victims?
So far, four of the six people on board have been named.
Emma Huke, 25, and Kendall Fortner, 24, worked for Sound Talent Group. The company said Fortner “lit up any room” and Huke was “a beautiful soul.”
Dave Shapiro, a top music agent and co-founder of the company, also died. He worked with bands like Sum 41 and singers like Vanessa Carlton. He was a skilled pilot with 15 years of flying experience.
Daniel Williams, a former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, also died. He had shared photos online hours before the crash, showing him and Shapiro in the plane’s cockpit.
The band posted a tribute, saying, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”
