Mexican Banda Superstar Jenni Rivera Killed in Plane Crash

Mexican authorities confirmed that there were no survivors of an airplane crash that killed banda superstar Jenni Rivera. The airplane accident sent waves of sadness throughout her community and fans.

Jenni Rivera
Jenni Rivera (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, Mexico’s Secretary of Communications and Transports, told news media outlets that after finding the remains of the private jet aircraft on Sunday, none of the seven passengers aboard were found alive, including Rivera, the 43-year-old singer.

Reporters got a second confirmation of the death from Rivera’s father, Pedro who was interviewed outside of his home in Lakewood, Calif. News recordings showed that several family members were gathered to mourn for the passing of their loved one. Amongst the mourners were Rivera’s mother Rosa and her eldest daughter Chiquis, neither of which made public statements. The family got first winds of the story when Rivera’s brother, Lupillo, contacted their father via telephone. He was in Mexico at the time of the jet’s disappearance.

“This is the first tragedy of this kind that we suffer as a family,” Rivera’s father told reporters on Sunday evening. “I hope people remember her as she was – someone who was straight with the world.”

Various celebrities extended their condolences via Twitter since news of the jet’s disappearance hit the media. Paulina Rubio (who was set to co-host the Mexican edition of The Voice with Rivera) William Levy, Joan Sebastian, and Ricky Martin were amongst the celebrities that were saddened by the death of Rivera.

Aboard the airplane, a Learjet 25 jet from 1969, were five passengers and two pilots. Rivera’s publicist, Arturo Rivera, and her make-up artist Jacob Yebale were amongst the passengers. Their last tweets were from concert photos taken the night prior to the crash.

Aerospace officials stated that the aircraft that was transporting the musician from Monterrey at 3:15 a.m. fell off the radar ten minutes after take-off, or 62 miles away. It was heading southbound to Toluca International Airport, which is located outside of Mexico City. Rivera was due in Mexico City on Sunday night for the taping of a Mexican TV show, La Voz. Unfortunately, the airplane never made the time of arrival of 4:40 a.m.

Authorities began to search for the missing jet at sunrise.

Rivera was known as La Diva de la Banda. She will be tremendously missed by her family and her fans. She will also take with her the title of being the first female regional Mexican artist to sell out the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

If you or a family member were injured while aboard an aircraft, consult an airplane accident lawyer free of charge. You may be entitled to compensation!

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