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Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner among seven dead in Boston plane crash Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner among seven dead in Boston plane crash
(about 4 hours later)
The Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner Lewis Katz was killed along with six other people in a fiery plane crash in Massachusetts, the newspaper's editor said on Sunday.The Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner Lewis Katz was killed along with six other people in a fiery plane crash in Massachusetts, the newspaper's editor said on Sunday.
Bill Marimow confirmed Katz's death to Philly.com, saying he learned the news from close associates.Bill Marimow confirmed Katz's death to Philly.com, saying he learned the news from close associates.
Family members said one of the other victims was the wife of a New Jersey borough commissioner. James P Leeds Sr told the Associated Press that his 74-year-old wife, Anne, died Saturday night in the Massachusetts crash. Leeds said he got a text from his wife from the plane at 9.36 p.m, four minutes before the crash.Family members said one of the other victims was the wife of a New Jersey borough commissioner. James P Leeds Sr told the Associated Press that his 74-year-old wife, Anne, died Saturday night in the Massachusetts crash. Leeds said he got a text from his wife from the plane at 9.36 p.m, four minutes before the crash.
He said his wife had been invited by Katz to attend an education-related function. They left Longport at about 2pm.He said his wife had been invited by Katz to attend an education-related function. They left Longport at about 2pm.
The Gulfstream IV crashed and caught fire as it was leaving Hanscom Field at about 9.40pm on Saturday for Atlantic City, New Jersey. There were no survivors.The Gulfstream IV crashed and caught fire as it was leaving Hanscom Field at about 9.40pm on Saturday for Atlantic City, New Jersey. There were no survivors.
The identities of the other victims were not immediately released. Nancy Phillips, Katz's longtime companion and city editor at the Inquirer, was not on board.The identities of the other victims were not immediately released. Nancy Phillips, Katz's longtime companion and city editor at the Inquirer, was not on board.
Officials gave no information on the cause of the crash. They said the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.Officials gave no information on the cause of the crash. They said the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
The 72-year-old Katz was one of two business moguls who bought out their partners last week with an $88m bid for The Inquirer, which also operates the Philadelphia Daily News and the news website Philly.com. The winners vowed to fund in-depth journalism to return the Inquirer to its former glory and to retain its editor. The former
Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell said
Katz had invited him on the doomed flight. Rendell said Katz tried to persuade him on Friday to attend an event at
the historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's Massachusetts home, but Rendell had
another commitment.
Rendell said he had flown on Katz's plane frequently since leaving office in 2011 and that Katz's two pilots "maintained the plane like it was their lives and deaths".
The 72-year-old Katz was one of two business moguls who bought out their partners last week with an $88m bid for The Inquirer, which also operates the Philadelphia Daily News and the news website Philly.com. The winners vowed to fund in-depth journalism to return the Inquirer to its former glory and to retain its editor. Rendell said the deal meant Katz had died at "maybe the high point of his life".
"It's going to be a lot of hard work. We're not kidding ourselves. It's going to be an enormous undertaking," Katz said then, noting that advertising and circulation revenues had fallen for years. "Hopefully, [the Inquirer] will get fatter.""It's going to be a lot of hard work. We're not kidding ourselves. It's going to be an enormous undertaking," Katz said then, noting that advertising and circulation revenues had fallen for years. "Hopefully, [the Inquirer] will get fatter."
Katz's partner, Harold Lenfest, said on Sunday the $88mn deal would be delayed but would continue after the death of his partner. The deal was expected to close on 12 June.Katz's partner, Harold Lenfest, said on Sunday the $88mn deal would be delayed but would continue after the death of his partner. The deal was expected to close on 12 June.
Lenfest said the company would lose Katz's expertise and creativity. But, he said, "the paper will continue because we both intended to put a new CEO in charge of the day-to-day operations."Lenfest said the company would lose Katz's expertise and creativity. But, he said, "the paper will continue because we both intended to put a new CEO in charge of the day-to-day operations."
Katz, who grew up in Camden, New Jersey, made his fortune investing in the Kinney Parking empire and the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network in New York. He once owned the NBA's New Jersey Nets and the NHL's New Jersey Devils and was a major donor to Temple University, his alma mater.Katz, who grew up in Camden, New Jersey, made his fortune investing in the Kinney Parking empire and the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network in New York. He once owned the NBA's New Jersey Nets and the NHL's New Jersey Devils and was a major donor to Temple University, his alma mater.
The fight over the future of the city's two major newspapers was sparked last year by a decision to fire the Inquirer's Pulitzer Prize-winning editor. Katz and HF "Gerry" Lenfest wanted a judge to block the firing. Katz sued a fellow owner, powerful Democratic powerbroker George Norcross, saying his ownership rights had been trampled. The dispute culminated last week when Katz and Lenfest, a former cable magnate-turned-philanthropist, bought out their partners.The fight over the future of the city's two major newspapers was sparked last year by a decision to fire the Inquirer's Pulitzer Prize-winning editor. Katz and HF "Gerry" Lenfest wanted a judge to block the firing. Katz sued a fellow owner, powerful Democratic powerbroker George Norcross, saying his ownership rights had been trampled. The dispute culminated last week when Katz and Lenfest, a former cable magnate-turned-philanthropist, bought out their partners.
Nearby residents saw a fireball and felt the blast shake their homes.Nearby residents saw a fireball and felt the blast shake their homes.
Jeff Patterson told the Boston Globe he saw a fireball about 60 feet high and suspected the worst.Jeff Patterson told the Boston Globe he saw a fireball about 60 feet high and suspected the worst.
"I heard a big boom, and I thought at the time that someone was trying to break into my house because it shook it," said Patterson's son, 14-year-old Jared Patterson. "I thought someone was like banging on the door trying to get in.""I heard a big boom, and I thought at the time that someone was trying to break into my house because it shook it," said Patterson's son, 14-year-old Jared Patterson. "I thought someone was like banging on the door trying to get in."
The air field, which serves the public, was closed after the crash. Responders were still on the scene on Sunday morning.The air field, which serves the public, was closed after the crash. Responders were still on the scene on Sunday morning.
Hanscom Field is about 20 miles north-west of Boston. The regional airport serves mostly corporate aviation, private pilots and commuter air services.Hanscom Field is about 20 miles north-west of Boston. The regional airport serves mostly corporate aviation, private pilots and commuter air services.