San Diego: All six occupants of a small private jet that crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Murphy Canyon, San Diego, on May 22, 2025, have been confirmed dead, according to investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Among those killed was well-known US music agent Dave Shapiro, 42, the co-founder of Sound Talent Group. Two unnamed employees from the agency and Daniel Williams, former drummer of the metal band The Devil Wears Prada, were also aboard the ill-fated flight.
The aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna Citation, had departed Teterboro, New Jersey, at approximately 11:15 pm. local time on Wednesday. It made a refueling stop in Kansas before continuing to San Diego. Though the lengthy flight would have violated federal regulations for airliners, the rules did not apply to this private plane.
As of 7:30 p.m., San Diego Humane Society has taken in 36 pets for emergency boarding + 1 dog as an owner surrender due to the plane crash this morning. Our teams have been working tirelessly all day to assist the animals and people who were impacted by this tragedy. pic.twitter.com/OZl6KrsB7H
— San Diego Humane Society (@sdhumane) May 23, 2025
The jet was on approach to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when it clipped power lines and crashed about two miles (3.2 km) from the runway, igniting a fire that damaged several homes and vehicles. Fortunately, no residents were killed or seriously hurt, though eight people were treated for minor injuries.
NTSB investigator Dan Baker confirmed multiple contributing factors. Baker revealed that runway lights were out at the time of the crash, and the weather alert system was also inoperable.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a notice about the runway light outage, but it remains unclear if the pilot received it. Audio recordings from LiveATC.net show the pilot was aware of the poor visibility and briefly considered diverting to another airport. He was heard telling air traffic control, ‘Doesn’t sound great, but we’ll give it a go.’
Assistant Chief Dan Eddy of the San Diego Fire Department emphasized the challenging weather, stating the fog was so dense at the time that “you could barely see in front of you.”
The crash caused significant destruction on the ground, but thanks to quick response and some luck, there were no fatalities among residents. Authorities and emergency responders worked swiftly to manage the fires and evacuate surrounding areas.
Following the crash, the San Diego Humane Society stepped in to aid displaced and injured animals. Volunteers decontaminated 16 dogs and puppies exposed to jet fuel and took in a total of 22 animals from the affected area.
The NTSB continues to investigate the accident, focusing on pilot decision-making, mechanical issues, and the non-functioning airport systems, as potential causes of the tragic crash that claimed six lives and shook a quiet San Diego neighborhood.
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