Latest news with #KendallFortner
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 more victims of private jet crash in San Diego identified by coroner
The names of two more people who were killed when the small private jet on which they were passengers crashed into a San Diego, California, neighborhood last week were released on Sunday. The San Diego Medical Examiner confirmed that 41-year-old Dominic Christopher Damian and 24-year-old Kendall Fortner were among the six people aboard a Cessna 550 jet that crash and burst into flames early Thursday morning in dense fog near Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport. Everyone aboard the plane died, officials said. Eight people on the ground were injured, including five who were treated for smoke inhalation, officials said. Multiple homes were destroyed and several vehicles were damaged, authorities said. The crash occurred about 3:45 a.m. when the private jet clipped powerlines and crashed in San Diego's Murphy Canyon neighborhood seconds before it was to land at the Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport, according to an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the NTSB. On Friday, the Medical Examiner confirmed the identities of three of the people aboard the aircraft who were killed as 42-year-old David Shapiro, 25-year-old Emma Huke, and 36-year-old Celina Kenyon. MORE: Music agency co-founder among dead in San Diego plane crash The identity of the sixth person killed in the cash has not been publicly confirmed by officials. Shapiro was the co-founder of the music talent agency Sound Talent Group, the company said in an earlier statement. The company's statement identified Fortner as a booking associate with the agency but Fortner's identity wasn't officially confirmed by the medical examiner until Sunday. Huke also worked for the talent agency as a booking associate, according to the agency. The plane was flying from Wichita, Kansas, to San Diego when it crashed, officials said. The plane originated in Teterboro, New Jersey, according to FlightRadar24 records. The plane stopped to refuel in Wichita, Kansas, before flying on to San Diego, according to FlightRadar24. San Diego Assistant Fire Chief of Emergency Operations Dan Eddy said at a news conference on Thursday that there was dense fog in the area at the time of the crash. In air traffic control audio transmissions minutes before the crash, the pilot was recorded asking about the weather conditions, according to The NTSB said that the airport's weather reporting system as well as runway lights were both not functioning at the time of the crash. ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report. 2 more victims of private jet crash in San Diego identified by coroner originally appeared on
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
All six victims of San Diego horror plane crash are identified... as possible cause is revealed
The remaining victims of those on a private jet that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood and burst into flames have been identified. Emma Huke, 25, Kendall Fortner, 24, Dominic Damian and Celina Kenyon, 36, have been named as the remaining four on the Cessna 550 when it crashed on Thursday. They had been traveling alongside Daniel Williams, the former drummer of Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, and pilot Dave Shapiro when the flight plummeted into a residential street. Shapiro was a co-founder of music agency Sound Talent Group that both Huke and Fortner had worked for. The music producer - who also owned Velocity Records - had a pilot's license and was listed as the owner of the plane that crashed. He had just purchased the eight-seater plane in July, according to aircraft registration records. California native Fortner was a graduate of San Diego State University and had joined the company out of college as a booking associate. The company described her as being 'fiercely independent and strong-willed', saying she was 'the life of the party and lit up any room she entered'. She is survived by her parents Gary and Kristin, her brother Justin and his wife Hannah and their son, Theo, and her brother Jordan and his wife Kailey. Huke, from Orange County, had joined the company last year as a booking associate and was a graduate of the University of Oregon. A statement said: 'There was nothing Emma loved more than live music. She worked hard to save up money so she could travel to concerts and festivals. 'And while she loved all genres of music, her favorite artists to see live were Taylor Swift and The 1975.' Huke is survived by her parents, Tim and Allison, and her younger sibling Ellis. Kenyon was a professional photographer and her social media profiles show her snapping shots of musicians. Her mother Jennifer shared a post to her social media on Friday saying that her family was 'devastated beyond words', adding: 'The world has lost a beautiful bright light.' According to her mom, Kenyon had been traveling home to San Diego on the jet rather than a commercial flight so she could take her daughter to school. NBC San Diego reported that Damian was friends with Shapiro for years, and was working as a software engineer. His jiu-jitsu gym is holding a remembrance event for him this coming Monday. The flight took off from Teterboro, New Jersey, near Manhattan, at about 11.15pm Wednesday and made a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, before continuing on to San Diego. Based on the flight path, it was bound for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when it struck power lines about 2 miles southeast of the airfield, authorities said. The plane never made it to its final destination of San Diego's Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, crashing down in a ball of flames just before 4am local time. Investigators said on Friday that the runway lights were out, a weather alert system wasn't working and there was heavy fog at the airport when Shapiro tried to land. The National Transportation Safety Board said officials would work over the next year to determine an official cause for how the plane crashed. Assistant San Diego Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said the fog was so thick in the morning that 'you could barely see in front of you.' Former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti said he thinks dense fog and fatigue after the pilot flew all night long were likely factors in the crash. 'This accident has all the earmarks of a classic attempt to approach an airport in really bad weather and poor visibility,' Guzzetti said. 'And there were other airports that the crew could have gone to.' He said pilots are required to check FAA posts called Notices to Airmen that alert pilots to any issues such as runway lights being out. 'It´s fairly easy for the pilot to get that information and they are required to get that information before any flight they take,' Guzzetti said. Just hours before the tragedy, Williams, 39, had chronicled his journey from New Jersey to California in posts on Instagram. One eerie photo captured the Cessna 550 at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey late Wednesday night as he boarded the flight, tagging Shapiro in the image. In another Instagram story, he shared a snap of the controls of the small aircraft, writing: 'Hey. Hey... you... look at me... I'm the (co)pilot now.' A now-haunting final post appeared to show him taking over the controls. 'Here we gooooo', the caption read. That was the final social media post he made. Audio recorded by includes a brief transmission from the pilot saying he was on final approach to the airport and was about 3 miles out at 3.45am After it emerged that Williams was on board the doomed aircraft, his band posted a heartbreaking tribute to him on social media. 'No words,' the band said. 'We owe you everything. Love you forever.' More than 50 police officers responded to the scene within minutes and began evacuating homes. At least 100 residents were displaced to an evacuation center at a nearby elementary school after at least 10 houses were burned or hit by debris from the crash. Amazingly nobody died on the ground, but eight people were injured in the collision.
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
What we know about the San Diego plane crash victims
As investigators continue their search for what caused a private jet to crash in San Diego, friends, family and colleagues are sharing the stories of the victims who died. Here's what we know. Dave Shapiro Dave Shapiro, 42, co-founded the music agency Sound Talent Group in 2018 after working as an agent for United Talent Agency. "Dave's superpower was his ability to recognize new talent, work with their unique skills and sound, and give them the counsel and resources to make a living in the music industry," his company wrote in a statement. "Some of your favorite bands wouldn't be on your playlists right now without Dave." After starting his music career as a drummer, Dave Shapiro worked as an agent for more than 20 years. So Born in Albany, New York, Shapiro began his career in the music industry as a drummer before becoming an agent and entrepreneur. Dave impacted the lives of countless people in the music industry, but on a personal level, he was the best friend you could ever want – funny, full of life, always passionate about music, and never jaded," Sound Talent Group wrote. "He was the guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it." Kendall Fortner Born and raised in Los Angeles County, Kendall Fortner, 24, joined Sound Talent Group in 2021 as a booking associate after interning with the agency while attending San Diego State University. "As early as her teenage years, Kendall had shown an interest in working on the business side of music, and the job at STG was a perfect fit that showcased her work ethic and ability to plan tours and festivals nationwide," the company wrote. Kendall Fortner fell in love with music after attending concerts with her father as a kid. Fortner Family She fell in love with the industry after attending concerts with her father at a young age. "From 1950s' doo-wop to classic rock, Green Day to Ed Sheeran, Kendall loved it all," Sound Talent Group wrote. Fortner attended West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch. "Fiercely independent and strong-willed, Kendall was the life of the party and lit up any room she entered," the company wrote. Emma Huke Emma Huke, 25, was born and raised in South Orange County and attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where she won a national championship in dance. Emma Huke, 25, grew up in South Orange County and attended the University of Oregin before joining Sound Talent Group. Huke Family "Our beloved daughter Emma was on the plane that crashed in San Diego yesterday," her mother wrote on an Instagram post. She was traveling with her boss and coworker and a few others back from Madison Square Garden for a band they represent. Unfortunately, something went wrong during landing and our beautiful, kind, smart, funny and very loved Emma is gone." She graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022 and joined Sound Talent Group two years later as a booking associate. "There was nothing Emma loved more than live music," the company wrote. "Emma also brought that passion for live music to her work. She was smart and organized, helping STG plan and promote their biggest tours. Clients and friends called Emma a force of nature, and she was a beautiful soul who brought joy and a light to everyone in her presence." Celina Kenyon Celina Kenyon, 36, is a freelance photographer who specializes in lifestyle and music. According to her website, she has worked with several brands, including Vans, Ugg, Variety and AP Magazine. "Celina's passion for photography and the telling of stories through her photos has always shown to be loved and respected throughout her professional photography career and beyond," father Bryan Charles Feldman said. Celina Kenyon boarded the private late-night flight to San Diego so she could take her daughter to school in the morning. Her father said this photo was a self-portrait she gifted him. Bryan Charles Feldman Feldman said she opted to join Sound Talent Group's flight so she could take her daughter to school in the morning. "After flying out to photograph and support her long time friends, she decided to fly home to San Diego with other crew and friends on a late night private flight rather than a commercial flight so she could get home early to take her daughter to school," he said. "Family is everything to her ... Our family is devastated beyond these words. The world has lost a beautiful, bright light."
CBS News
24-05-2025
- CBS News
Questions surround San Diego plane crash that left at least 4 dead, several others injured
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of a San Diego plane crash that left at least four people dead and several others injured in the military housing neighborhood of Murphy Canyon on Thursday. On Thursday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed six people were aboard the plane at the time of the crash. Sound Talent Group released a statement saying three of its employees were killed in the crash, including its co-founder, Dave Shapiro, who was listed as the plane's owner. The music agency also identified two booking assistants who died in the crash: 24-year-old Kendall Fortner and 25-year-old Emma Huke. The San Diego Medical Examiner also identified victim 36-year-old Celina Marie Rose Kenyon. Crews with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are still working to confirm the total number of fatalities. They will remain on the scene for several days to examine evidence, and wreckage recovery is set to begin later Friday. "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends," the company said. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time." The crash occurred at 3:45 a.m. near Scuplin Street and Santo Road, not far from the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego, where the Cessna 550 private jet was heading. The neighborhood where the crash took place is Navy-owned housing, Capt. Bob Heely, Commanding Officer of the Naval base in San Diego, said. Eliott Simpson with the NTSB said the plane struck power lines two miles southeast of the airport, and then collided with a home. During a news conference Friday, NTSB investigator Dan Baker said a technical glitch at Montgomery-Gibbs knocked out a system that gives weather updates to approaching pilots. The pilot of the plane instead spoke to an air-traffic controller at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, four miles away from Montgomery-Gibbs, for weather updates. Baker said weather conditions impact the decision-making of pilots upon approach. Montgomery-Gibbs also experienced an outage of lights along runways. Despite technical issues at Montgomery-Gibbs, it's not yet clear if they affected the pilot's ability to fly the jet. "The pilot did not report any problems to air traffic control and he did not declare an emergency," Baker said. The plane didn't have a flight data recorder, Baker added. Emergency response to the San Diego plane crash The plane crashed into a residential neighborhood, damaging 10 homes and displacing at least 100 residents, officials said after surveying the impacted area. The crash forced the San Diego Police Department to issue evacuations for Salmon, Sample and Sculpin streets. Nearby Miller Elementary School at 4343 Shields Street is serving as an evacuation site and the American Red Cross is also providing assistance to impacted families. Police said Salmon Road, Santo Road, and Corporal Drive will remain closed while the National Transportation Safety Bureau conducts its investigation. Hancock and Miller elementary schools have reopened on Friday after being closed, the San Diego Unified School District said. Camera crews from the CBS affiliate KFMB-TV were at the scene a few hours after the crash, where destruction and debris were scattered across the streets. San Diego Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy told reporters on Thursday that fuel from the jet ran down the street, igniting fires on parked cars. "I can't quite put words to describe what this scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street and everything all on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see," said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl at a news conference. The San Diego Humane Society also responded to the scene of the crash to conduct search and rescue operations. Teams deployed around 10 a.m. on Thursday and began working in the evacuation zone to safe animals who were lost or left behind. San Diego and Escondido locations have taken in 22 animals, including 13 dogs, eight puppies and one cat. The Human Society said 12 of the dogs were exposed to jet fuel and medical teams have been providing decontamination services. If people need help evacuating an animal or have had to leave one behind, they are encouraged to call the Humane Law Enforcement dispatch at 619-299-7012 (press 1). Where did the Cessna 550 jet originate? According to flight information from FlightAware, a company that offers flight tracking, the plane left the Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, New Jersey, on Wednesday around 8:15 p.m. local time. It made a fuel stop at the Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas, around 10:49 p.m. local time before heading to San Diego. The plane was heading toward the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when the crash occurred.
The Guardian
24-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Six people in San Diego plane crash confirmed dead
Six people on board a small plane that crashed in San Diego on Thursday morning were confirmed dead, officials said, as authorities worked to ascertain their identities and investigate the cause of the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said at a press conference Friday afternoon that local authorities were the entity in charge of releasing the names of the victims. 'The pilot and passengers were fatally injured,' Dan Baker, a senior air safety investigator at NTSB, said at the press conference. 'There were no ground fatalities or serious injuries.' According to Baker, a fire ignited by the impact destroyed the plane and damaged nearby homes and vehicles. Baker said officials will work over the next year to determine what caused the Cessna 550 Citation to crash just before 4am Thursday. The jet was carrying a music executive and five others. Three employees of Sound Talent Group, which has represented artists such as Sum 41 and Vanessa Carlton, were among the fatalities in the crash, the company confirmed: the agency's co-founder, Dave Shapiro, who was listed as the owner of the plane and had a pilot's license, was among the dead, according to the Federal Aviation Administration; and the additional two employees who died were Kendall Fortner, 24, and Emma Huke, 25, both southern California natives and booking associates for the agency. The incident was reported in the Murphy Canyon community, near the Montgomery-Gibbs executive airport, around 3.47am local time. Amid the pre-dawn darkness and fog, the plane reportedly struck at least one home, charring the structure and causing the roof to collapse, and damaged several vehicles. Authorities said the crash damaged about 10 homes, and left jet fuel throughout the area. No one in the neighborhood of US navy housing died, but eight people were treated for smoke inhalation from the fiery crash and non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined. Among the questions investigators will seek to answer is whether the pilot was aware of a notice alerting flight crews that runway and glide-path lighting at Montgomery-Gibbs airport was out of commission. The pilot did not report any problems to air traffic control or declare an emergency before the crash, according to Baker. 'We anticipate the wreckage recovery will begin later today and our team will conclude the on-scene portion of the investigation within the next two to three days,' he said.
