Monday, June 2, 2014

Media Mogul Dies In Plane Crash

WCVB Photo
Lewis Katz, 72, new co-owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Daily News and Philly.com, died Saturday night in the crash of a private plane at a Massachusetts airfield, according to philly.com.

All seven people were killed aboard the private plane that crashed at Hanscom Field and erupted into a fireball, authorities said Sunday.

The Gulfstream IV crashed about 9:40 p.m. Saturday as it was departing for Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey, said Matthew Brelis, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates the air field.

"There were no survivors," Brelis said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people on board and their loved ones."

Lewis Katz
The names of the other victims were not immediately released.

Just last Tuesday, Katz and H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest bought out their partners for $88 million, gaining control of the media company that owns the Inquirer.

"We all deeply mourn the loss of my true friend and fellow investor in ownership of The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Daily News and Philly.com," Lenfest said. "It is a severe loss, but I am pleased to announce that Drew Katz, Lewis's son, will replace his father on the board of our new company."

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WBZ 1030 AM  reported that Katz had attended an event in Concord, Mass., Saturday afternoon at the home of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and her husband, Richard Goodwin.

Katz was also a minority-owner of the New York Yankees.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board ares continuing to investigate. The NTSB will determine the probable cause of the accident.

During a Sunday morning news conference, Director of Aviation Ed Freni said all new information will be released by the NTSB.

Hanscom Field is about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Boston. It was used by the Army Air Corps and military operations dominated until it became both a military and civilian facility in the 1950s. It's now a regional airport serving mostly corporate aviation, private pilots, commuter air services and some light cargo.

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