San Diego Private Jet Crash Kills 6 Amid Fog, Power Line Strike

A preliminary investigation into the May 22, 2025 plane crash in San Diego that killed six people, including Daniel Williams, former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, and pilot Dave Shapiro, revealed multiple contributing factors. The Cessna 550 Citation struck power lines while flying too low during its approach to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in foggy weather, damaging the plane and leading to the fatal crash. Investigators noted that poor weather conditions, including reduced visibility and a low cloud ceiling, violated the airport's minimum landing standards, and the pilot proceeded despite these challenges, stating, “I think we’ll be alright.” Additionally, the airport's runway alignment lights had been out of service since 2022 due to delayed repairs, and the weather reporting system malfunctioned due to a power surge, making the landing unauthorized under FAA regulations. Both the pilot and the air traffic controller made critical errors, failing to divert the plane to another airport despite known hazards and official notices. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will issue a final report later in the year, but these findings highlight significant lapses in safety protocols and infrastructure maintenance that contributed to the tragedy.