Mangione musicians killed in plane crash

BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Two members of Chuck Mangione's band were killed Thursday night in the commuter plane crash near Buffalo, N.Y., said the jazz musician's publicist.

Mangione's representative told TMZ that band members Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett were among the 50 people killed when the flight from Newark, N.J., crashed into a house near Buffalo.

"I'm in shock over the horrible, heartbreaking tragedy," Mangione said in a statement released to TMZ through his publicist.

The musicians were headed to a gig in Buffalo scheduled for Friday night; in light of the tragedy, the show has been canceled, TMZ said.