Ex-Devil Wears Prada Drummer Dies in Tragic San Diego Jet Crash
So, like, tragedy just slid into our DMs: a private Cessna Citation jet clipped a Point Loma house last Thursday evening, instantly killing two people aboard—one of them the ex-drummer for The Devil Wears Prada and the other a well-known music agent. Flight tracking data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows the single-engine jet departed McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad around 5:20 p.m., cruising southbound before it nosedived into a residential block at 5:47 p.m. Neighbors told NBC San Diego they heard a “loud bang” followed by “crackling flames,” and the house was immediately engulfed. Fire crews arrived within minutes but could only confirm the two on board, identified as former Devil Wears Prada drummer John “JT” Tomlin—who’d toured internationally with the post-hardcore outfit—and Sam Carlson, an L.A.-based agent renowned for breaking indie acts in the late 2010s.
Authorities have cleared the scene but say there were no ground fatalities or injuries. “It’s a miracle the home was mostly vacant at the time,” San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief Kevin Grimes told People Magazine. The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation, citing possible engine failure; investigators are reviewing maintenance logs and onboard recorder data. As of Friday morning, FAA spokesperson Lisa Gomez confirmed that pilot certification and weather weren’t ruled out as contributing factors.
Tomlin, 34, left The Devil Wears Prada in 2021 after eight years with the band, having played on three studio albums and multiple Warped Tour dates. A statement from his management (via People) described him as “a charismatic performer whose rhythms helped define a generation of metalcore fans.” Carlson, 39, was equally respected behind the scenes, representing rising acts like Midnight Youth and calibrating international deals for emerging talent. His agency, Brightstar Artists Group, released a note saying, “Sam lived at 100% volume—onstage or in the studio—and his clients were family.” Both victims had posted photos of the jet’s interior on social media just hours before takeoff, sparking eerie reflections on fate across music-industry circles.
Local reaction has been one of shock and disbelief. A GoFundMe was launched by fans to assist with memorial services and support grieving family members, quickly surpassing its $50,000 goal. Meanwhile, NTSB officials expect to release a preliminary report within 30 days, and the FAA will hold a safety hearing later this summer. Industry insiders are already questioning private-jet safety protocols for touring musicians.
Anyway, that’s the deal. Do with it what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine
NBC San Diego
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
