Aircraft tragedy in San Diego: Ex-drummer dies when crashed!

Aircraft tragedy in San Diego: Ex-drummer dies when crashed!

Daniel Williams, the former drummer of the well-known metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died in a tragic plane crash in San Diego. This incident occurred on Thursday morning, May 22, 2025, around 3:45 a.m. local time when a Cessna 550 Citation II plunged into a residential area near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. On the journey of Teterboro Airport, New Jersey, with a stopover in Wichita, Kansas, the plane was on the way to its final goal, the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, as it got into difficulties. Williams was part of The Devil Wears Prada from 2005 to 2016 and leaves a large gap in the music scene.

In addition to Daniel Williams, Dave Shapiro, a 42-year-old music agent and co-founder of the Sound Talent Group (StG), was also among the victims. Shapiro had worked with prominent artists like Sum 41. A total of six people were on board the Cessna, with the San Diego police confirmed the death of at least two people. Williams' father, Larry Williams, also confirmed that his son was on board, while Williams had previously shared pictures of the cockpit on Instagram and made humorous comments about flying without a pilot license.

The misfortune

The Cessna apparently roamed power lines during the approach and touched a house in Tierrasanta before crashed north of Murphy Canyon. The weather conditions in which the visibility was only about 0.8 kilometers and the dense fog prevailed could have contributed to the accident. Eight people on the ground were injured, two of them treated slightly at the scene of the accident and needed six further medical care. A total of around 100 residents were evacuated and about ten houses were damaged, one of them was completely destroyed.

Over 50 police officers and Hazmat units were on site. In order to support the affected residents, a temporary evacuation body was set up in the Miller Elementary School. The pilot communicated before the crash about the planned landing on runway 28, but the cumbersome conditions led to a tragic turn. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has started the investigation; Preliminary reports can be expected in the next two weeks, while a final report is to be drawn up in 12 to 18 months. The incident also raises questions about security in aviation that have been improved in recent years by technical developments such as landing assistants.

commemoration and reactions

The band The Devil Wears Prada honored her former drummer on Instagram with a moving series of pictures and the message: "No words. We owe everything to you. We love you forever." The tragic loss not only affects his family and friends, but also the entire Hard music group. Williams' passion for music is valued by many and his death is perceived as a great tragedy.

In recent years, the number and severity of plane plumbers have dropped worldwide. Nevertheless, the risk of aviation remains present, and the United States has recorded the highest number of incidents since 1945. According to Statista, there were 233 fatalities worldwide in 2022 alone through plane torture, a worrying trend.

In the light of this incident, the discussion about security in aviation is initiated again, while affected families and friends are united in mourning for Daniel Williams and the other deceased.