Mexican-American star singer killed in plane crash

MONTERREY (AFP) - A small plane carrying Mexican-American star singer Jenni Rivera crashed in northern Mexico on Sunday, leaving no survivors and sparking an outpouring of grief among fans and fellow celebrities.

The wreckage of the Lear Jet, which was carrying six other people, was found by farmers in the state of Nuevo Leon hours after it had taken off from Monterrey on its way to Toluca, in the center of Mexico, authorities said.

Radio contact with the plane was lost shortly after it took off at 3:15 am. The singer had given a concert in Monterrey Saturday night and was supposed to participate in a television show in Mexico City on Sunday, local media said.

Transportation Minister Gerardo Ruiz told Milenio television the crash site was a “disastrous scene” with no survivors. Rivera, 43, was a Caliornian of Mexican origin, best known for her music in genres known as Banda and Norteno. Her records have sold 15 million copies.

As news of the plane’s disappearance and then crash came out, fans and fellow celebrities reacted with disbelief and grief on Twitter. “This is sad. A bit in shock. Much peace to her family,” Latin superstar Ricky Martin wrote in Spanish as he retweeted the news of the missing plane.

Latin rapper Pitbull wrote “I highly respected #JenniRivera 4 being a gr8 performer but more then tht being real & gr8 example 4 us all que dios la bendiga &may she RIP,” using the Spanish phrase for God bless her.

Fans also posted messages of grief and support for Rivera’s family, saying she was a role model for women and for the Hispanic music community.

Some speculated about a possible conspiracy behind the crash, while others held out hope that, as her body had not yet been identified at the crash site, she may still be found alive.

Rivera won several Billboard Latin Music awards, and her most recent album is featured on multiple of Billboard’s charts of top hits. The album, “Joyas Prestadas,” has spent 39 weeks on both the Latin Pop and the Banda charts, including a stint in the number one spots on both lists.

Her 2011 video for her song “Basta Ya” (Spanish for “Enough’s Enough”) has been viewed nearly five million times.