Variety has confirmed that Oscar-winning composer James Horner, known for his beautiful and memorable scores for such films as Titanic, Braveheart, Aliens, Glory, has tragically died in a plane crash near Santa Barbara on Monday, June 22nd. He was 61.

The news was reportedly confirmed by Horner’s assistant Sylvia Patrycja via Facebook:

“We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent,” Patrycja wrote on Facebook on Monday. “He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road.”

Horner’s plane, a S-312 Tucano MK1 turbo-prop, crashed on Monday morning in Cuyama, California, north of Santa Barbara at around 9:30am, officials said. Earlier reports revealed that the plane registered to Horner had crashed, but the pilot had not been identified.

“James was a very experienced pilot,” James’ attorney, Jay Hooper, told Variety. “James loved flying. I don’t know anything more than that.”

In 1987, Horner earned his first Academy nomination for Best Original Score for Aliens. Horner won two Academy Awards in 1997 for his work on James Cameron’s Titanic in 1997, one for original dramatic score and one for best original song for “My Heart Will Go On,” performed by Celine Dion. 

“My job — and it’s something I discuss with [James Cameron] all the time — is to make sure at every turn of the film it’s something the audience can feel with their heart,” James said in a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “When we lose a character, when somebody wins, when somebody loses, when someone disappears — at all times I’m keeping track, constantly, of what the heart is supposed to be feeling. That is my primary role.”

We send out our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends during this difficult time.