According to his talent company, prominent music agent Dave Shapiro is one of those killed after a small plane crashed into a residential area in San Diego.
Shapiro is a co-founder of Sound Talent Group, and his clients include rock bands such as Sum 41, Story of the Year and Pierce the Veil.
Daniel Williams, former drummer of Devil Wares Prada's metal band, is also afraid of being involved in the crash. Media reports show that he posted on social media from the plane.
The crash crash destroyed one home, damaging 10 other buildings in the Murphy Canyon area, leaving scorched cars and debris in the streets. Eight people on the ground were injured.
A spokesman for the Sound Talent Group said in a statement to the US media: “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founders, colleagues and friends.”
“Our hearts are directed at their families and everyone affected by today's tragedy. Thank you for respecting their privacy at this point.”
San Diego authorities said the National Traffic Safety Commission, which is investigating the incident, is still unknown, but at least two people have been killed in the crash. Authorities have not made the names of the people killed.
The Cessna 550 plane headed to the neighborhood around 3:45 local time (10:45 GMT). According to the Federal Aviation Administration, such planes can carry up to 10 people, including pilots.
In addition to his music career, Shapiro was an avid pilot and certified flight instructor with 15 years of experience, according to the airline Velocity Aviation.
Williams, who is believed to have been on the plane, posted several Instagram stories hours before the crash. San Diego Union – According to the Tribune, it was he who showed Shapiro and he were sitting in the co-pilot seat next to the music executive.
The post displayed a flight number that matches the crashed flight number, the newspaper reported.
The collision evacuated about 100 people from their neighborhood just northeast of San Diego city.
One of the eight injured ground people were hospitalized. Others were treated on-site.
Elliot Simpson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said the plane left New Jersey at 11:15pm (3:45 GMT) on Wednesday night and stopped in Wichita, Kansas, to refuel.
He said the plane had approached San Diego airport and appeared to have slammed two power lines before crashing towards the neighborhood. Simpson said it's too early to say whether it is related to the cause of the crash.
Simpson added that the NTSB is in the process of collecting evidence, and said it found fragments of the aircraft under the power line and wings in nearby streets.
Earlier on Thursday, Fire Chief Assistant Director Dan Eddie explained the scene by saying, “There are planes everywhere.”
“As you can imagine, something very big at that amount of speed would have many throws that go in all directions,” he explained.
Footage from the scene shows burnt cars scattered across the street.
Local resident Christopher Moore told The Associated Press that he and his wife woke up loudly early in the morning.
Moore said they looked out the window and saw the smoke, and the couple grabbed their two young children and ran away.
Once they reached the street, they saw the car engulfed in flames.
“It was certainly scary, but sometimes you have to drop your head and get to safety,” Moore said.
A Marine who lives near the crash site told Fox News that he heard “a strange shit noise” and that “a boom and a shaking at home” continued.
The aircraft appeared to be heading towards Montgomery Field, an airport located 10 km (6 miles) north of downtown San Diego.
