Daniel Williams last Instagram post before the fatal plane crash with Dave Shapiro seen as haunting

Former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams, who was killed in a plane crash with Sound Talent Group (STG) co-founder Dave Shapiro on Thursday morning(May 22), had posted what is now seen as an eerie message on Instagram just hours before the ill-fated aircraft went down.

Just hours before the crash, Williams shared a series of Instagram posts from the cockpit, including one with the caption, "Hey. Hey … you … look at me … I’m the (co)pilot now," and another reading, "Here we gooooo." These posts have since been viewed as a foreshadowing of the tragedy.

The duo lost their lives in a plane crash in San Diego's Murphy Canyon neighborhood at around 3:45 a.m. local time when their Cessna 550 aircraft, en route from New Jersey with a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, crashed into a residential area.


The impact ignited fires that engulfed at least 10 homes and several vehicles, injuring eight individuals on the ground.

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Daniel Williams

Williams, 39, was a founding member of the Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, contributing to five of their albums before departing in 2016. He had recently accepted a position at Apple after working as a software engineer at GoPro.

Dave Shapiro

Shapiro, 42, was a prominent figure in the music industry, representing bands such as Sum 41, Pierce the Veil, and Lamb of God through his agency, STG. He was also an experienced pilot and flight instructor with 15 years of experience.

Tributes and condolences pour in

The crash has left the music community in mourning, with tributes pouring in from colleagues and fans alike. The Devil Wears Prada honored Williams with a heartfelt Instagram post, stating, "No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever." STG also expressed their grief, stating, "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy".

The music world continues to remember the contributions of Williams and Shapiro, whose legacies have left an indelible mark on the industry.

Terrance Coughlin, a music executive, also paid tribute, saying on X, “Rest in Peace Dave Shapiro, Daniel Williams, and everyone on that flight. “Some of my very first shows were booked through Dave.”

The investigation is ongoing as the National Transportation Safety Board is currently finding the cause of the crash.