California

Philly-Area DJ to Donate Money to Family of Pilot Killed in Banner Plane Crash

A Philadelphia DJ who suggested a fatal plane crash in California was connected to a GoFundMe campaign he created to fly a banner over the Dallas Cowboys training camp plans to donate money to the victim's family, even after it was determined the pilot was not the same pilot contracted to fly the banner.

Eric Emanuele also known as the Mighty ERock, sent the following statement to NBC10:

On July 31st I began a GoFundMe campaign to have a banner towing airplane fly over Dallas Cowboys Training Camp. A third party aerial advertising company was contracted to conduct the flight. The flight was scheduled to take place on August 9th over Oxnard, CA at 2:30 (PT). At 4:45pm (ET) on August the 9th I was informed the flight could not take place due to a plane crash at the airport. It is still to be determined whether or not the plane involved in the accident was the same plane contracted for the flight over Oxnard, or if the accident prevented our flight from happening. Regardless of the circumstances ANY loss of life is tragic. I am working with the aerial advertising company to ensure money raised from the original flight will go directly to the family of the pilot.

My family and I want to send our condolences to the family of the pilot. Until more details are released I have no further comment.

The Aviat Inc. A-1 single engine plane, towing a banner, crashed at about 12:30 p.m. (PT) on a runway at the county-owned airport in the 900 block of West Alondra Boulevard, about two miles southwest of Compton's central business district. The pilot was the only person aboard the plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot had just picked up a banner at the airport before the fatal crash, the agency said.

Emanuele, a local DJ, vlogger and Eagles season ticket holder, had created a GoFundMe campaign for a banner which read "We Got Demarco," which was meant to be flown over the Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, California. It was part of a series of pranks between the Eagles and Cowboys. During the Eagles' open practice at Lincoln Financial Field Sunday, a banner, partially funded by Cowboys Defensive End Greg Hardy, which read  “We Still Dem Boyz #SacksComing," flew over the stadium.

After the plane crash was reported, Emanuele made several posts on his Twitter account and GoFundMe page suggesting but not explicitly stating he was the one who hired the pilot. Several posters on the GoFundMe page also sent in donations to the unidentified pilot's family.

https://twitter.com/TheMightyEROCK/status/630490241070198784

NBC4's Kate Larsen later confirmed however that the pilot killed in the crash was not the same pilot contracted to fly the Eagles banner.

Officials continue to investigate.

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