James Horner, film composer for Titanic and Braveheart, dies in plane crash

James Horner, the Hollywood composer who wrote the score for the Oscar-winning film Titanic, has died in a plane crash aged 61.

Horner, who was a trained pilot, is reported to have been alone aboard a private plane which crash in California yesterday morning (June 22).

The composer won two Oscars for his work on Titanic: one for the film score and one for best original song for the theme song My Heart Will Go On.

The track, which is performed by Celine Dion, spent two weeks at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart and is one of the UK’s biggest selling singles of all-time with sales of 1.55 million.

Horner was nominated for a further eight Oscars for his songs and scores for films Avatar, Braveheart, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, House Of Sand And Fog, Field Of Dreams and An American Tail And Aliens.

Horner's personal assistant, Sylvia Patrycja, wrote on Facebook: "We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent. He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road."

Photo: Karl Schoendorfer/REX