San Diego Plane Crash: Music Stars Among the Dead, 15 Homes on Fire

San Diego Plane Crash: In a deeply saddening and terrifying incident, a small private plane crashed into a residential area of San Diego’s Murphy Canyon on Thursday early morning, 22 May 2025. The crash not only took the lives of the people onboard but also left a trail of destruction in a peaceful neighbourhood full of military and civilian families.

All You Need to Know

• The crash happened around 3:45 am near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport
• The Cessna 550 aircraft carried 8 to 10 people
• The plane had made a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, but had originally taken off from Teterboro, New Jersey
• 15 homes and many cars were badly burnt
• 100+ residents were evacuated
• The fog was extremely dense at the time of the crash
• Jet fuel flowed down the street, burning everything in its path
• No deaths reported on the ground, but many suffered injuries and smoke inhalation

Music Industry Suffers a Great Loss

One of the biggest shocks of this incident was the death of Dave Shapiro, the co-founder of music agency Sound Talent Group. He owned the plane and held a pilot’s licence. Dave was also the owner of Velocity Aviation and Velocity Records. Along with him, two more employees of the agency were killed.

Former drummer of the popular metal band The Devil Wears Prada, Daniel Williams, also died in the crash. Hours before the flight, he had posted on Instagram about flying with Dave Shapiro. Their loss has shaken the music industry, and fans are in mourning.

What Residents Saw and Felt

Locals were shaken out of their sleep by a loud bang, followed by flames and thick smoke. Families rushed out of their homes with kids and pets, wearing night clothes. One resident, Ariya Waterworth, described hearing a loud “whooshing sound” before seeing a huge fireball outside. She escaped with her two children and their dog, but her cars were either destroyed or badly damaged.

Another resident, Christopher Moore, said he saw a car fully on fire while escaping with his family. Despite the horror, there were also stories of bravery, as military families helped each other get out safely. Police even rescued three husky puppies from one of the burning homes.

Why Did the San Diego Plane Crash Happen?

According to officials, the weather was extremely foggy, and the pilot could barely see the runway. Though the plane was operating under instrument flight rules (used in poor visibility), pilots are required to land only if they can visually see the runway below 673 feet. It is suspected the pilot lost sight and possibly clipped a power line before the crash.

An investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA is assisting.

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A Scene of Horror

Fire chief Dan Eddy described the crash site as “a gigantic debris field” with jet fuel everywhere. Burnt vehicles lined the street, and black smoke continued to rise hours after the crash. One house was completely destroyed while 10 others were damaged. The smell of jet fuel filled the area, and emergency responders rushed to secure the zone.

This is Not the First Time

Sadly, San Diego has seen such tragedies before. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crash killed the pilot and a UPS worker. In 2008, a Marine jet crash killed four people in University City. Many residents are now raising concerns about the safety of having airports so close to residential areas.

The San Diego plane crash is a tragic reminder of how quickly life can change. While emergency services acted swiftly and bravely, the damage—both emotional and physical—will take time to heal. The music world has lost incredible talent, and the residents of Murphy Canyon have lost their sense of peace and safety.

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