Officials To Test Remains Found At Jenni Rivera Plane Crash Site
LAKEWOOD (CBSLA.com) — The remains of banda singer Jenni Rivera and six others were recovered in Northern Mexico overnight and taken to a Mexican forensics facility, authorities said Tuesday.
Rivera, 43, performed a concert in Monterrey, Mexico, before boarding a Learjet25 early Sunday morning.
The flight took off around 3:30 a.m. and was reported missing 10 minutes later after airport officials lost contact with the pilots, Mexican authorities said.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is assisting Mexican authorities with the investigation, confirmed Monday that Rivera died in the crash near Iturbide, Nuevo Leon.
Her California driver's license was found among the crash debris, officials said.
The singer's lawyer, publicist and the plane's flight crew also perished, CBS News reports.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation Tuesday.
Records show the jet, built in 1969, was heavily damaged during a 2005 landing and then later cleared to fly by officials.
Authorities are also examining the history of the aircraft's owner, Starwood Management of Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to documents, the company had one of its planes seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in September.
Rivera's brother, Lupillo, plans to travel to Mexico to bring back her remains for burial in Southern California.
He tweeted early Tuesday morning: "Ama..voy a llevarle a su hija a casa, Le llevare su mama a mis sobrinos A nuestra hermana. fans a una gran senora!!!!!!!!!! "
Translation: "Mom...I'm going to bring you your daughter home, I will bring my nephews and nieces their mother. to fans a great lady!!!!!!!"
Rivera was a native of Long Beach and is survived by her five children.
