A city spokesperson shared an update after the plane flying over Tennessee experienced a harrowing turn just minutes after takeoff.
A DeHavilland DH-6 Twin Otter aircraft carrying 20 people crashed shortly after departing Tullahoma Regional Airport around 12:30 p.m. on June 8, 2025, according to city spokesperson Lyle Russell. The incident quickly sparked concern across social media.
As reported by People, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said on social media that the plane, used for skydiving, landed near Old Shelbyville Road and that several of the people on board were airlifted to nearby hospitals.
Russell told the outlet, “There were no casualties. There are some minor injuries.” He said three individuals were airlifted to local hospitals, while one person with more serious injuries was transported by ground. Others with minor injuries received treatment at the scene from first responders.
Three Tennessee State Trooper SUVs are seen parked near the crash site, with the skydiving aircraft in the background tilted with its nose on the ground, on June 8, 2025 | Source: x/TNHighwayPatrol
Russell also confirmed the crash caused no damage to airport property and that no other injuries were reported on the ground.
Images shared by law enforcement show the aircraft resting in a grassy field, with significant structural damage and portions of its wings torn off. Emergency vehicles and fire crews surrounded the wreckage as authorities worked to secure the area.
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials arrived at the scene and reportedly took the lead in the investigation.
Following the incident, several comments surfaced online reflecting concern and speculation. A netizen reacted, suggesting that plane crashes appear to be happening frequently. A second commented, “What is it about sky diving planes? Seem crashing all the time [sic]?”
A closer view shows the damaged DeHavilland DH-6 Twin Otter with a severely crumpled tail and damage along the fuselage and wing, on June 8, 2025 | Source: x/TNHighwayPatrol
A third suggested a possible cause: “Maybe attempting an emergency landing and wing hit a tree [sic]?” Another remarked, “Not large enough for that many people.”
A different commenter expressed sympathy and offered prayers for those affected by the crash, while another echoed the same sentiment, “I pray everyone survives. I heard it was a skydiving charter plane. 🙏”
One individual who claimed they were near the crash site recalled hearing the plane but assumed it was just landing. Even after hearing sirens and seeing people being taken away on a golf cart, they didn’t realize anything was wrong until relatives told them about the crash. They noted how quiet the incident was and said it could have been much worse, expressing relief that everyone survived.
Someone else thanked the first responders for their effort, while another added, “Thank the good Lord that so far there are no reported fatalities. May God bless all of the ones injured.”
While the Tennessee crash ended without any loss of life, another recent aviation accident in California proved far more devastating.
Dave Shapiro, 42, co-founder of Sound Talent Group and a key figure in live music, was among six people killed when a jet crashed into the Tierrasanta neighborhood early Thursday, May 22.
Billboard noted that the plane was carrying Shapiro and two of his colleagues, whose names have not been released as family notifications continued.
According to the FAA, the Cessna 550 departed from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport around 3:45 a.m.
Shortly after taking off, the jet hit power lines about two miles away and crashed into homes in a San Diego military housing area just before 4 a.m., according to CNN.
“There are fragments of the aircraft under the power lines,” said Eliott Simpson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The impact scattered debris over a quarter mile. The fuel from the jet rained down, sparking fires that destroyed vehicles and damaged multiple homes, including one where the roof collapsed onto a car.
In an early update posted by the San Diego Police Department at 1:53 a.m. on May 22, police confirmed at least two fatalities, eight injuries, and damage to around 10 buildings. Authorities urged the public to report any debris or jet fuel found in the area. Approximately 100 residents were evacuated.
By 7:21 a.m., police announced the opening of an evacuation center at Hancock Elementary School and thanked residents for their donations, adding that no additional supplies were needed. Later that morning, they stated that the NTSB had taken over the investigation and would provide all future updates.
In the aftermath, Sound Talent Group released a statement expressing their grief, “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. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”
Shapiro showed a deep passion for aviation alongside his music career. In a May 2020 Instagram post, he shared a photo of his FAA licenses — one as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and the other as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
In his caption, Shapiro said he had been wanting to return to flight school for years to pursue his ATP rating, describing it as the next step beyond commercial certification. He mentioned that although he had an established career, he always aimed to keep learning and improving as a pilot.
He shared that he passed his check ride a few months earlier and received his certification in the mail. He also added that he completed his test in a Citation 525 series jet, which qualified him to fly CJ (CitationJet) models — a family of light business jets commonly used for corporate and private travel.
Shapiro expressed genuine pride in the achievement, calling it a “fun” milestone and celebrating his progression as a pilot. That drive extended beyond personal goals — he went on to found his own flight school called Velocity Aviation.
According to the company’s website, Shapiro was 22 years old in 2005 when he earned his first discretionary income as a young executive in the music industry. He used it to take an introductory flight — a decision that immediately hooked him on aviation. Over time, both his passion and experience grew exponentially.
As he built his career in music and launched other ventures, Shapiro continued to develop his skills as a pilot and eventually shared that passion through the training and services his company offered.
Velocity Aviation highlighted the wide range of his flying pursuits, from helicopters and twin-engine aircraft to aerobatics and BASE jumping — a reference to parachute jumps from fixed objects like Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs).
The school noted that he logged over 15 years of flight time and traveled more than a million miles. His commitment also appeared in public FAA records. One of the aircraft linked to him, a 1985 Cessna S550, is registered to DAVIATOR LLC, based in Alaska.
The FAA registration, issued in July 2024, remains valid. The jet is a multi-engine, turbo-fan aircraft used in executive transport — a fitting aircraft for someone who seamlessly merges business, travel, and flight.
The NTSB continues to investigate the crash. As officials review the evidence and assess the damage, residents and authorities remain focused on understanding what led to the tragedy.
