Latest news with #VelocityAviation
Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Dave Shapiro music agent dies in san diego plane crash at 42
Dave Shapiro, music agent and owner of Sound Talent Group (STG), was among those killed in a fiery plane crash in San Diego, California, early Thursday morning (May 22). The 42-year-old and several others on board the 1985 Cessna Citation reportedly died in the accident around 4 a.m. in the Tierrasanta neighborhood. Officials confirmed there were no survivors. The identities of the other victims have not been released at the request of the company, which is notifying family members. A spokesperson for Sound Talent Group expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. 'We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,' they 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.' Beyond his music career, Shapiro was an avid pilot with over a decade of flying experience. He owned Velocity Aviation, a flight instruction business, and was known for his adventurous spirit. His aviation website highlighted his thrill-seeking lifestyle, including activities such as BASE jumping and aerobatic flying. At one point, the San Diego office of STG operated out of an airplane hangar alongside some of Shapiro's aircraft. Professionally, Shapiro was a well-respected music agent who launched STG in 2018 with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen after successful tenures at the Agency Group and United Talent Agency. His roster included notable acts such as Sum 41, Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, and Eve 6. He also ran Velocity Records, supporting independent and alternative artists. Shapiro was a lifelong supporter of independent music, especially punk, hard rock, and indie bands outside the mainstream. With the launch of STG, he helped pave the way for nearly a dozen independent agencies, leaving a lasting legacy in the music industry.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Shapiro Was 'Big Shot' Talent Agent & Pilot
Dave Shapiro was a music talent agent and pilot who filled his Instagram page with videos showing him flying planes. "Flying back with @davevelocity," former rocker Daniel Williams wrote on his Instagram story, using Shapiro's Instagram handle, and sharing a photo of the plane. People is reporting that both Williams and Shapiro, whose full name was David Shapiro, died in a plane crash on the morning of May 22, when the private jet careened into a San Diego neighborhood, setting homes on fire. Williams is the former drummer for the band The Devil Wears Prada. Authorities have not confirmed the victims' names. But Shapiro's company, Sound Talent Group, said Shapiro had died, in a statement to Billboard that read, 'We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. 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.' According to The New York Post, Shapiro "was the co-founder of Sound Talent Group (STG), whose clients include bands Sum 41, Story of the Year, and Parkway Drive." The Post described Shapiro as a "music industry big shot." Other bands represented by Shapiro over the years are Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, Set it Off, Silverstein, and Eve 6, Billboard reported. "He also operates the Velocity Records music label, whose roster has included Thursday, Concrete Castles, and Craig Owens," the site reported. On Instagram, Shapiro described himself as, "Music agent: airplane/helicopter Pilot👨✈️: husband: puppy dad: retired BASE jumper: Alaska/San Diego." He also ran an aviation school called Velocity Aviation. That company has a bio for Shapiro. "Velocity Aviation was founded by long-time aviator, Dave Shapiro, who began his aviation adventure early on in life. Although never exposed to it in childhood, he always had an intrigue for aviation," it reads. "As a young executive in the music business in 2005, the then 22 year old, had earned a small amount of discretionary income for the first time in his life and the very first thing he did was took an intro flight. From that day forward he was completely hooked to all things aviation. Over time his passion grew exponentially as did his aviation experience," it says. "Over the coming years Dave continued to grow his career in and outside of the music industry. Rising up the ranks at major Hollywood agencies he was able to simultaneously grow his aviation business as well as other businesses including a restaurant, record label and merchandise manufacturing. This ultimately grew to him co-founding his own agency, San Diego based Sound Talent Group. No matter what businesses Dave was involved in, the one constant has always been aviation," the website bio adds. On Instagram, Shapiro had not posted for some time. In 2020, he wrote, "Been wanting to go back to flight school for many years for my ATP rating (airline transport pilot). For non-aviators, this is the license above commercial. Although I have a career and don't plan to change that I always want to learn more and be a better pilot. Passed the check ride a couple months ago and got my cert in the mail! Did the test in a citation 525 series so I'm now rated for the CJ jets too. Fun times." He also posted videos showing him flying planes. Photographer Jonathan Weiner wrote a tribute to Shapiro on Instagram. "Few people have impacted my life in as many ways as @davevelocity has over the last few decades," it says. "We first met with From Autumn To Ashes 2 lifetimes ago and we've been friends ever since. Dave often thought that anything he was doing was the most fun thing you could do and did everything in his power to make everyone around him participate, and he was often correct." He added: "I can't think of anyone that lived life fuller and had more of a positive impact on as many people as he did. I don't know what else to say other than my life would be unimaginably different without you and I know you'll be blasting Maiden with Pilot wherever you are. 🖤."Dave Shapiro Was 'Big Shot' Talent Agent & Pilot first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025
1News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 1News
Three from music industry killed in San Diego private plane crash
The music agency Sound Talent Group said three of its employees, including co-founder Dave Shapiro, died on the private plane that crashed into a San Diego neighbourhood. Shapiro is listed as the owner of the plane and has a pilot's license, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Shapiro also owned a flight school called Velocity Aviation and a record label, Velocity Records, according to his LinkedIn page. The UK Independent reported another of the fatalities was Daniel Williams, a former drummer with the Christian rock band The Devil Wears Prada. The Devil Wears Prada official Instagram account shared a tribute to the former member. A photo of the drummer was captioned: "no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever." Prior to the flight, Williams posted photos of an aircraft cockpit, saying he was "flying back" with Shapiro and that he was acting as a "(co)pilot". The musician's father, Larry Williams, told TMZ his son was probably kidding and he did not have a pilot's licence. The Sound Talent Group agency didn't share the names of the other two who died. "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy," the agency said in a statement. Sound Talent Group has represented artists including Hanson, Sum 41 and Vanessa Carlton. The total number of fatalities is unknown, but six people were on board the plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The private jet crashed early Thursday (local time) into a neighborhood of US Navy-owned housing in San Diego during foggy weather, igniting at least one home and numerous vehicles parked on the street. The plane clipped power lines before slamming into the house, said Elliot Simpson with the National Transportation Safety Board. Several people were injured while trying to flee after the crash just before 4am in Murphy Canyon, the largest neighborhood of Navy-owned housing in the country. Others were treated for smoke inhalation, authorities said. At least one home was destroyed with its front heavily burned and its roof partially collapsed. About 10 others suffered damage at the site where half a dozen vehicles were melted and scorched into burned shells. Ariya Waterworth said she woke up to a "whooshing sound" and then saw a giant fireball outside. She screamed for help as firefighters arrived and helped her get out with her two children and their family dog. One of the family's cars was "completely disintegrated," and the other had extensive damage. Her yard was littered with plane parts, broken glass and debris. "I definitely do feel blessed because we've been spared," she said. San Diego police officer Anthony Carrasco said five people from a single family were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation after evacuating to a nearby school. Another person was treated at a hospital for injuries sustained while climbing out of a window trying to flee. Two others were treated for minor injuries at the scene. At least 100 residents were evacuated, police said, with surrounding blocks cordoned off with yellow police tape and checkpoints. Jet fuel rolled down Salmon St hours after the crash. The smell of fuel lingered in the air while authorities worked to extinguish one stubborn car fire that sent smoke billowing up. "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. San Diego officials haven't released details about the plane but said it was a flight from the Midwest. The flight tracking site FlightAware lists a Cessna Citation II jet scheduled to arrive at the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive airport in San Diego at 3.47am from the small Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas. Officials at the Kansas airport said it made a fueling stop in Wichita. The flight, according to FlightAware, originated Wednesday night in Teterboro, New Jersey, about 10km from Manhattan and is an airfield frequently used by private and corporate jets. Audio recorded by includes a brief transmission from the pilot calling out that he was on final approach to the Montgomery-Gibbs airport and was about three miles out at 3.45am. The plane is owned by Daviation LLC, based in Alaska, and its owner held a pilot's license, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. Public records show the owner also had at least one address in San Diego. The Associated Press couldn't immediately reach the owner, his family or business partners. Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang. They grabbed their three young boys and ran out of the house. On their way out of the neighbourhood, they saw a car engulfed in flames. "It was definitely horrifying for sure, but sometimes you've just got to drop your head and get to safety," he said. Police officers rescued multiple animals, including three husky puppies that were rolled away in a wagon. A few blocks away, families, including Moore's, stood in a parking lot waiting to learn when they could return to their homes. Eddy said it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed. "You could barely see in front of you," he said. Officials were looking into whether the plane had clipped a power line before crashing into the neighbourhood that is about 3km from the Montgomery-Gibbs airport. City Councilmember Raoul Castillo said residents told him dramatic stories "about military families helping military families out of their homes, jumping out of windows and avoiding fire". The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. At that hour and in foggy weather, the plane was likely operating on an instrument flight rules plan, which is typically used during reduced visibility, said Barry Newman, a board-certified aviation attorney. However, for that airport, once the aircraft reaches 205m, the pilot also has to rely on his sight. "If a pilot descends to that level and he can't see the runway, he has to call for a missed approach or divert to another airport," Newman said. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane plowed into a San Diego suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS delivery driver on the ground and burning homes. It was preparing to land at the airport. In December 2008, a US Marine Corps fighter jet slammed into a house in San Diego's University City neighbourhood, causing an explosion that killed four people inside. The Marine Corps blamed the crash on mechanical failure and human error. — additional reporting by 1News.
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
A music talent agency says 3 employees died on a plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood
SAN DIEGO -- The music agency Sound Talent Group said Thursday that three of its employees, including co-founder Dave Shapiro, died on the private plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood. Shapiro is listed as the owner of the plane and has a pilot's license, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Shapiro also owned a flight school called Velocity Aviation and a record label, Velocity Records, according to his LinkedIn page. The agency didn't share the names of the other two employees who died. 'We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy,' the agency said in a statement. Sound Talent Group has represented artists including American pop band Hanson, American singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton, and Canadian rock group Sum 41. Hanson is perhaps best known for its earworm 1990s pop hit, 'MMMBop.' American rock bands such as rosecoloredworld and Concrete Castles and the Japanese heavy metal band, Nemophila, are signed to Shapiro's Velocity Records. Shapiro also owned a flight school, Velocity Aviation. San Diego authorities earlier said two people had died. The total number of fatalities is unknown, but six people were on board the plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The private jet crashed early Thursday into a neighborhood of U.S. Navy-owned housing in San Diego during foggy weather, igniting at least one home and numerous vehicles parked on the street. The plane clipped power lines before slamming into the house, said Elliot Simpson with the National Transportation Safety Board. Several people were injured while trying to flee after the crash just before 4 a.m. in Murphy Canyon, the largest neighborhood of Navy-owned housing in the country. Others were treated for smoke inhalation, authorities said. At least one home was destroyed with its front heavily burned and its roof partially collapsed. About 10 others suffered damage at the site where half a dozen vehicles were melted and scorched into burned shells. Ariya Waterworth said she woke up to a 'whooshing sound' and then saw a giant fireball outside. She screamed for help as firefighters arrived and helped her get out with her two children and their family dog. One of the family's cars was 'completely disintegrated,' and the other had extensive damage. Her yard was littered with plane parts, broken glass and debris. 'I definitely do feel blessed because we've been spared,' she said. San Diego police officer Anthony Carrasco said five people from a single family were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation after evacuating to a nearby school. Another person was treated at a hospital for injuries sustained while climbing out of a window trying to flee. Two others were treated for minor injuries at the scene. At least 100 residents were evacuated, police said, with surrounding blocks cordoned off with yellow police tape and checkpoints. Jet fuel rolled down Salmon Street hours after the crash. The smell of fuel lingered in the air while authorities worked to extinguish one stubborn car fire that sent smoke billowing up. '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. The tracking site FlightAware shows Shapiro's Cessna Citation II jet took off from Teterboro, New Jersey, Wednesday night and flew to Wichita, Kansas. Simpson said the plane made a fueling stop in Kansas before continuing on to San Diego. The New Jersey airport where the flight originated is about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Manhattan and is an airfield frequently used by private and corporate jets. Audio recorded by includes a brief transmission from the pilot calling out that he was on final approach to the Montgomery-Gibbs airport and was about 3 miles out at 3:45 a.m. Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang. They grabbed their three young boys and ran out of the house. On their way out of the neighborhood, they saw a car engulfed in flames. 'It was definitely horrifying for sure, but sometimes you've just got to drop your head and get to safety,' he said. Police officers rescued multiple animals, including three husky puppies that were rolled away in a wagon. A few blocks away, families, including Moore's, stood in a parking lot waiting to learn when they could return to their homes. Eddy said it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed in the neighborhood about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the Montgomery-Gibbs airport. 'You could barely see in front of you," he said. City Councilmember Raul Campillo said residents told him dramatic stories 'about military families helping military families out of their homes, jumping out of windows and avoiding fire.' The FAA said the NTSB will lead the investigation. At that hour and in foggy weather, the plane was likely operating on an instrument flight rules plan, which is typically used during reduced visibility, said Barry Newman, a board-certified aviation attorney. However, for that airport, once the aircraft reaches 673 feet (205 meters), the pilot also has to rely on his sight. 'If a pilot descends to that level and he can't see the runway, he has to call for a missed approach or divert to another airport,' Newman said. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane plowed into a San Diego suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS delivery driver on the ground and burning homes. It was preparing to land at the airport. In December 2008, a U.S. Marine Corps fighter jet slammed into a house in San Diego's University City neighborhood, causing an explosion that killed four people inside. The Marine Corps blamed the crash on mechanical failure and human error. ___ This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the councilmember's surname. It's Campillo, not Castillo. ___
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
At least three killed in San Diego jet crash. What we know about the victims
At least three people aboard a jet headed for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego were killed when the aircraft crashed into a neighborhood early Thursday. The Federal Aviation Administration said six people were on the Cessna 550 when it crashed amid dense fog around 3:45 a.m. While authorities have not named anyone who died in the crash, a spokesperson for Sound Talent Group, a San Diego-based music agency, confirmed to The Times that the company lost three employees. Among them was Dave Shapiro, the company's co-founder. The other employees were not named. "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,' read a company statement. '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.' Shapiro's digital presence encapsulated the spirit of an adventurer. He was a music agent, airplane and helicopter pilot, husband, puppy dad and retired BASE jumper, according to his Instagram bio. Shapiro, who co-founded Sound Talent Group in 2018, also started Velocity Aviation, a company that offers scenic flight tours in San Diego and Homer, Alaska. The aviation company also specializes in aircraft leasing, aircraft sales consulting, ferry flights and flight instruction, according to the Velocity Aviation website. Shapiro took his first flight class in 2005 as a 22-year-old executive in the music business and was immediately 'hooked to all things aviation,' the website reads. Shapiro also owned a restaurant, record label and a merchandise manufacturing business. 'From BASE jumping to aerobatic flying, Helicopters to twin engines, flight instructing to furthering his own education, doesn't matter to Dave as long as he gets to be in the sky,' the Velocity Aviation website reads. 'With over 15 years of flight experience, thousands of hours logged, and over a million miles flown, Dave continues to grow his experience and share it with the aviation community through the many services Velocity Aviation offers.' Videos on Instagram show him performing rolls and other aerobatic maneuvers while piloting an aircraft. In 2020, he posted a photo of his pilot licenses announcing that he'd been certified as an airline transport pilot. "For non-aviators, this is the license above commercial. Although I have a career and don't plan to change that I always want to learn more and be a better pilot," he wrote in the caption. "Passed the check ride a couple months ago and got my cert in the mail! Did the test in a citation 525 series so I'm now rated for the CJ jets too. Fun times." Flying was more than a business to Shapiro. It was also an element of one of life's biggest milestones — his wedding. In 2016, Shapiro and his wife boarded a bright red plane mounted with skis to fly over Denali National Park in Alaska to get to their ceremony. The couple said "I do" on Kahiltna Glacier—the bride wearing a gold sequined dress and the groom a dark suit and an Iron Maiden T-shirt. Shapiro's wife detailed the whirlwind celebration in a story published online, ending it with a message of adoration for her groom: "my beautiful husband, thank you for existing and I love you way more." An outpouring of condolences were posted to social media Thursday. The music industry veteran worked as a band manager, promoter and other roles in American metalcore, pop-punk and emo rock music. "He was my manager and agent for years and a huge part of my career as a producer and musician," musician Carson Slovak wrote on Facebook. "He was a truly good person and an inspiration to countless people. His contributions to the music industry are legendary and his charitable spirit had a profound effect on so many. I'm heartbroken and in shock." Bill D'Arcangelo, an artist manager at Mid Atlantic Management, said in a post on Facebook that Shapiro was "a pillar of the music industry that will never be replicated or replaced." This is a breaking story and will be updated. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
