Heartbreaking final post of famous drummer Daniel Williams on board plane before it crashed in San Diego

Daniel Williams, a talented drummer who used to play with the metal band The Devil Wears Prada, was one of the people on board a small plane that crashed in San Diego. Just hours before the accident, Daniel posted several videos and pictures on Instagram, showing how excited he was to be flying.

In one video from inside the cockpit, he joked and smiled, saying, “Hey… look at me… I’m the (co)pilot now.” In another post, he said, “Here we gooooo,” clearly enjoying the moment. He also shared a photo just before takeoff and tagged Dave Shapiro, the music agent who owned the plane and was also on board.

That same day, on May 22, the small aircraft crashed into a neighborhood in Murphy Canyon, a quiet part of San Diego. The crash happened in the morning, before sunrise, and was so serious that emergency teams had to evacuate people from nearby homes.

Firefighters described the area as being covered in jet fuel, which made things even more dangerous. Their first priority was making sure all the residents were safe and out of harm’s way.

Daniel Williams wasn’t the only one who died in the crash. Dave Shapiro, a respected figure in the music industry who had worked with famous bands like Sum 41, I Prevail, Parkway Drive, and Silverstein, also lost his life. He was the co-founder of Sound Talent Group, a well-known music agency.

The agency later confirmed that Shapiro and two other employees booking assistants Kendall Fortner and Emma Huke were among the six people who died in the crash. Two more people, Dominic Damian and photographer Celina Kenyon, were also killed.

The news of the crash shocked and saddened many people, especially those in the music world. Daniel’s former bandmates from The Devil Wears Prada were heartbroken. They posted a short but emotional tribute, saying, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” It was clear that Daniel had made a big impact on the people around him, both as a musician and as a person.

Friends, fans, and coworkers of Dave Shapiro were also devastated. A spokesperson for Sound Talent Group said they were crushed by the loss of their co-founder and friends. They asked for privacy for the families and everyone affected by the tragedy, saying their hearts were with everyone grieving.

Right now, investigators are still trying to find out exactly what caused the crash. Dan Baker from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) explained that the airport where the plane was trying to land had a power surge, which knocked out the weather alert system.

This meant the pilot had less information than usual. On top of that, the weather conditions were bad. There was thick fog, and the lights that usually help guide pilots to the runway weren’t working. It was dark, and the visibility was low, making it much harder for the pilot to land safely.

It’s especially heartbreaking to think that Daniel was full of energy and joy just hours before the crash. He had no idea what was coming, and his final posts show someone who was simply excited to be flying and spending time with friends. Now, those posts are being shared by fans and friends who are mourning his sudden loss.

This tragedy has left a deep mark on both the local community and the music industry. People who knew Daniel and Dave are sharing memories and expressing their grief. For many, it’s hard to believe that such talented, passionate people are gone. They were doing what they loved, surrounded by others who shared their dreams, and their lives were cut short in a way no one could have expected.