Local News
Singer Vince Neil Not Aboard Plane in Scottsdale Crash, Confirms Spokesperson
Scottsdale, AZ – A Learjet 35A, reportedly linked to Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil, veered off the runway and collided with a parked Gulfstream 200 at Scottsdale Municipal Airport on Monday, February 10, 2025, at approximately 2:45 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the Learjet crashed after its main landing gear failed upon landing.
A source informed Channel2 NOW that Neil was not involved in the accident.
Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil was not on board the Learjet 35A that crashed at Scottsdale Municipal Airport on Monday, despite the aircraft being registered to his company, Chromed in Hollywood, Inc.
A spokesperson for Neil released a statement clarifying his absence and expressing his sympathies:
“Mr. Neil was not on the aircraft at the time of the incident. His thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragic accident. He is also deeply grateful for the swift and professional response of all first responders who provided critical aid today.”
According to Mötley Crüe’s manager, Allen Kovac, Neil’s girlfriend, Rain, and her friend, Ashley, were on the Learjet 35A when it crashed upon landing. Both women survived and were transported to the hospital for treatment. Rain reportedly sustained five broken ribs, while the dogs they were traveling with also survived.
Kovac confirmed that Neil is safe and extended the singer’s condolences to the families of those affected. He also stated that the band is currently discussing ways to support the victims’ families in the wake of the tragedy.
According to Scottsdale Fire Department Public Information Officer Dave Folio, five individuals were involved in the crash:
- One person was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Two individuals sustained critical injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital.
- One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital.
- One individual refused medical attention.
The Learjet 35A is registered to Chromed in Hollywood, Inc., a Wyoming-based company linked to Vince Neil. The Gulfstream 200, which was stationary at the time of the collision, is owned by Jet Pros, LLC, a private jet charter company based at Scottsdale Airpark.
Jet Pros Director of Operations Gus Toulatos released a statement expressing condolences:
“On behalf of Jet Pros, LLC, we are saddened to hear about the lives lost and those injured today at Scottsdale Airport. Our condolences go out to the families affected by this terrible accident. Our Gulfstream G-200 was parked on the ramp when it was hit by a Learjet 35. Fortunately, there were no injuries on board our aircraft, but external damage was sustained. We are fully cooperating with airport authorities and relevant agencies as they investigate the incident.”
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky also extended her sympathies:
“On behalf of the City of Scottsdale, we offer our deepest condolences to those involved in this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with those receiving treatment at our trauma center.”
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting a full investigation into the crash.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.