Jenni Rivera Dies in Plane Crash; Family Has 'Faith' Singer is Alive
Jenni Rivera, Grammy award-winning Mexican-American singer and reality TV star, reportedly died Sunday in a plane crash in Mexico. Her family, however, is hopeful that she will be found alive.
The 43-year-old was among seven on board the 1969 Learjet 25 heading from the northern city of Monterrey to the central Mexican city of Toluca at 3 a.m. Sunday following a concert performance. Aviation authorities lost contact with the private jet approximately 10 minutes after takeoff and its scattered wreckage was found hours later in El Tejote locality, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico, according to ABC News.
Juan Rivera, the singer's brother, said Monday that the family has strong faith that Rivera will be found alive despite the singer's melted driver's license being found at the scene of the high impact crash.
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"In our eyes, we still have faith that our sister will be OK," Juan told reporters outside of the family home near Long Beach, Calif. on Dec. 10.
"We thank God for the life that he has given my sister ... For all the triumphs and successes she has had, and we expect that there will be more in the future," he added.
Rivera was accompanied by four members of her entourage, including her publicist, makeup artist and two pilots during the flight. As of Tuesday, no bodies had been recovered in the wreckage, which was spread 300 feet from the point of impact.
"There is nothing recognizable, neither material nor human in the wreckage," transportation and communication minister Gerardo Ruiz Esparza told the Televisa network.
It is still unclear what exactly caused the crash, although new reports suggest that the 43-year-old plane had prior faults in 2005. A fuel system malfunction allegedly caused a fault in one of the plane's wings, during takeoff although no one was injured during the incident, according to Daily Mail.
"I want to thank you all for your support, and please remember her with all your heart," Rivera's father Pedro said outside his Lakewood, Calif. home.
