Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner, Lewis Katz among seven killed in private jet crash

Seven people were killed, including a co-owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, Lewis Katz, when a private jet struck an antenna wire and burst into flames while taking off Saturday night at Hanscom Field in Bedford, according to authorities.

"I'm sorry to report that there were no survivors," said Sharon Williams, director of the airport. ''Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and their loved ones.''

The doomed jet did not get airborne at the end of the runway, according to National Transportation Safety Bureau investigator Luke Schiada.

After striking the antenna, the aircraft plowed through a chain link fence and burst into flames, coming to a halt in the Shawsheen River gully about 2,000 feet from the end of the runway.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on its website on Sunday that Lewis Katz, 72, a co-owner of the Inquirer and sister newspaper the Phildelphia Daily news, was killed in the crash.

His fellow owner, H F "Gerry" Lenfest, told the Inquirer,  "We all deeply mourn the loss of my true friend and fellow investor in ownership of The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Daily News and Philly.com. It is a severe loss, but I am pleased to announce that Drew Katz, Lewis's son, will replace his father on the board of our new company."

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that at the last minute on Saturday, Katz, a philanthropist and co-owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, had invited Anne Leeds, a longtime friend and neighbour from Longport, New Jersey, to accompany him and two others on a quick day trip to Concord, Massachusetts, where they were going up to help support a nonprofit education effort.

In addition to Katz, 72, and Leeds, 74, the passengers were Susan Asbell, and Marcella Dalsey, who were longtime friends of Katz, who shared his passion for improving education opportunities, especially for children in need, and were integral to the civic life of South Jersey.

They had been invited by Katz to a fund-raiser at the Concord, Massachusetts, home of the historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and her husband, Richard Goodwin, an adviser to presidents John F Kennedy and Lyndon B John