The tragic death of Daniel Williams, the former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, has sent shockwaves through both the music and tech communities.
At a Glance
- Daniel Williams died in a plane crash in San Diego.
- The crash involved a Cessna 550 jet with multiple fatalities.
- Williams had transitioned from music to a successful software career.
- He posted humorous photos from the flight indicating he was co-pilot.
Plane Crash in San Diego
Daniel Williams, 39, the former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, was among the casualties in a plane crash that occurred in San Diego. The Cessna 550 private jet crashed Thursday morning in a residential military area, leading to multiple fatalities. Reports confirm the plane had departed from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, with a refueling stop in Kansas, before crashing near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The crash resulted in the evacuation of roughly 100 residents from the affected area due to lingering debris and fuel residue. Alongside Williams, the flight manifest included five other individuals, including talent agent Dave Shapiro, who also perished. In total, two people have been confirmed dead, with eight others injured, all of whom were not on board the aircraft.
Williams’s Life and Career Transition
The life of Daniel Williams was a journey from music to tech. Williams gained fame as the original drummer for The Devil Wears Prada, but he left the music industry in 2016 for a career in software engineering. After his musical career, Williams excelled as a senior software architect at GoPro.
“No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” – The Devil Wears Prada.
Despite his career change, Williams’ legacy in music endures, reflected in the tributes from former bandmates and fans alike. A social media post from The Devil Wears Prada encapsulated their heartfelt loss and respect for Williams’s contributions to the band’s success.
Circumstances of the Crash
The specific circumstances leading to the crash are under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. Meanwhile, audio from the flight reportedly captures final transmissions from the pilot before the incident. The crash site was described by San Diego’s Police Chief as horrific, with visible signs of jet fuel leakage and ongoing fires.
“The drummer, 39, also shared pictures of him at the controls of the small aircraft, said that he was the ‘co-pilot now’. It’s unclear if he was joking.” – The Daily Mail.
Williams had shared an eerie final post from the flight, humorously referring to himself as the co-pilot, an image that now haunts those who revered his personality and art. The crash resulted in significant destruction, damaging homes and vehicles in the military neighborhood of San Diego’s Murphy Canyon.
