LOS ANGELES: James Horner, the celebrated composer of musical scores for several smash-hit movies, including “Titanic “and “Avatar,” died on Monday in a plane crash at the age of 61, colleagues said.

Hollywood trade magazine Variety reported the composer died when his private aircraft crashed in Santa Barbara, California.

The Federal Aviation Administration said a single engine Tucano MK1 crashed at 9:30 am on Monday near Cuyama, California, killing pilot, the only person on board.

The plane was registered to Tucano Flyer, LLC, which lists Horner as a managing member. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

“We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent.

He died doing what he loved,” Horner’s personal assistant, Sylvia Wells, said on her Facebook page.

“Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones,” wrote director and colleague Ron Howard on Twitter.

Horner won two Oscars for his work on “Titanic” — one for its theme song “My Heart Will Go On”, performed by Celine Dion, and another for the film’s score.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2015

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