Jet crashes into a California neighbourhood, music talent agent among several dead
Cessna 550 Citation jet slams into neighbourhood, destroying a home and setting cars ablaze
A private jet carrying a music talent agent and five others hit a power line in foggy weather early Thursday and crashed into a San Diego neighbourhood, slamming into a home and killing multiple people on the flight.
With the home engulfed in flames and jet fuel rolling down the streets, half a dozen vehicles ignited while residents in the neighbourhood of US Navy-owned housing were shaken awake just before 4am by the thunderous crash and subsequent explosions. Out their windows, they saw a wall of fire.
“I can’t quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.
No one in the neighbourhood died, but eight were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and injuries that were not life-threatening, including a person who was hurt climbing out a window, police officer Anthony Carrasco said.
Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, and two employees were among those killed, the music agency said in a statement. Sound Talent Group has represented artists including American pop band Hanson, American singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton and the Canadian rock group Sum 41. Hanson was perhaps best known for its earworm 1990s pop hit, “MMMBop”. Shapiro also owned Velocity Records.