Jenni Rivera: Latin singer and reality TV star dies in plane crash

The plane carrying Latin singer Jenni Rivera was revealed to have malfunctioned in 2005 as it is now believed that the Rivera and six others died when the plane crashed on Sunday.

Seven years ago, a fuel system malfunction caused one of the plane's wings to weigh more than another while it was attempting to take off from an Amarillo airstrip. No one was injured in the 2005 incident.
The cause of Sunday's crash remains unknown, but investigators now believe that all of the passengers and crew died on board, with Rivera's presence confirmed by the discovery of her half-melted driver's license.

Shocking: Jenni Rivera's mangled driving license was found near the wreckage of the plane crash that killed the singer and reality star on Sunday

Missing: Authorities in northe Mexico are confirming that a small plane carrying Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera has disappeared

The wreckage was spread 300 feet from the point of impact outside Monterrey, Mexico.

Rivera and the six other people aboard the plane - two pilots and four members of her entourage -  are presumed dead, though authorities have found no bodies amid the debris.

'There is nothing recognizable, neither material nor human in the wreckage,' transportation ad communication minister Gerardo Ruiz Esparza told the Televisa network.

Wreckage: Officials say almost nothing remains of the Learjet that crashed in El Tejote locality, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico

Fears: This photo of Jenni Rivera, right, taken aboard her private jet, may be the last photo taken of the singer

The 43-year-old mother of five is already being moued by her family in Lakewood, Califoia, and her millions of fans.

River was revered for her soulful voice and her openness about her personal struggles.

'I want to thank you all for your support, and please remember her with all your heart,' Rivera's father Pedro said outside his Lakewood, Califoia, home.

The U.S.-registered Learjet 25 went missing early Sunday after taking off from the city of Monterrey.

Widespread: Searchers used helicopters as they looked for pieces of the wreckage and attempted to recover bodies from the mountainous area where the plane went down

Discovery: It appears that one of the pilots was inexperienced, based on the temporary airman's certificate found at the crash site

Mouing: Fans left candles at a makeshift memorial outside the home of Jenni Rivera in Califoia

Jorge Domene, spokesman for Nuevo Leon's govement, said the plane left Monterrey about 3.30am after a concert there and aviation authorities lost contact with the craft about 10 minutes later.

It had been scheduled to arrive in Toluca, outside Mexico City, about an hour later.

Jose Antonio Gonzalez, the mayor of the town of Iturbide in Nuevo Leon state, said earlier the plane had been located in the municipality of Los Tejocotes.

Domene says a search for the plane was launched early Sunday, with helicopters from the local civilian protection agency flying over the state. 

Seven people including the star's publicist, Arturo Rivera, lawyer, makeup artist, Jacob Yebale, and the flight crew were believed to be aboard, the ministry of transportation and communication said in a statement.

Disaster: Rivera was headed for a suburb of Mexico City when her plane crashed

Onstage: Rivera performs at the 2009 Billboard Latin Music Awards in Miami in this April 23, 2009 file photo

Better times: Rivera is pictured with her third husband, former baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza. The couple divorced in October

The 43-year-old who was bo and raised in Long Beach, Califoia, is known for her interpretations of Mexican regional music known as Nortena and banda.

She recently won two Billboard Mexican Music Awards: Female Artist of the Year and Banda Album of the Year for 'Joyas prestadas: Banda.'

Her famous songs include 'La Gran Senora' and 'De Contrabando.'

As her fans awaited news on the search, even some celebrities took to Twitter to voice their conce.

Latin songstress Gloria Estefan tweeted: 'OMG! Just heard about @jennirivera Praying for her and her family during this difficult & uncertain time!'

Rescue crew: The plane crashed at such high speed that it was to toe pieces, leaving nothing recognizable in the wreckage

Reality TV: Rivera currently stars in I Love Jenni on the Mun2 network, and had just signed on to play the lead in a new ABC sitcom

Gossip guru Perez Hilton added: 'I am praying for them all!'

Mexican songstress and actress Lucero wrote on her Twitter account: 'What terrible news! Rest in peace ... My deepest condolences for her family and friends.'

Rivera's colleague on the Mexican show 'The Voice of Mexico,' pop star Paulina Rubio, said on her Twitter account: 'My friend! Why? There is no consolation. God, please help me!'

Rivera, the daughter of immigrant parents, has sold some 15 million records in her career and won several awards and Grammy nominations, her website said.

She also currently stars in the reality TV show I Love Jenni on the Mun2 network, as well as Jenni Rivera Presents: Chiquis and Raq-C and her daughter's Chiquis 'n Control.

The singer, businesswoman and actress appeared in the movie Filly Brown, as the incarcerated mother of Filly Brown.

She divorced former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza in October after two years. It was her third marriage.

Conce: Singer Gloria Estefan was shocked to lea the news about Rivera's plane

Saddened: Celebrity gossip guru Perez Hilton also voiced conce about the ordeal via Twitter

After the concert in Monterrey on Saturday night, she gave a press conference during which she spoke of her emotional state following the divorce.

She said: 'I can't get caught up in the negative because that destroys you. Perhaps trying to move away from my problems and focus on the positive is the best I can do.

'I am a woman like any other and ugly things happen to me like any other women. The number of times I have fallen down is the number of times I have gotten up.'

She has five children from prior relationships.

Three days ago, it was reported that Rivera had agreed to shoot a pilot for a new ABC sitcom called Jenni.