Israeli Actor, Flight Instructor Among Two Killed In California Plane Crash

Israeli Actor, Flight Instructor Among Two Killed In California Plane Crash

 

Israeli actor and flight instructor Guy Kapulnik, 46, and his passenger, Taylor Laska, 33, have died after a light aircraft crashed into a field in California, United States.

 

The fatal crash occurred on Thursday, September 24, 2026, near Hesperia in San Bernardino County.

Emergency responders were alerted to the crash shortly before 10am after the small aircraft went down in an open field.

 

Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

 

The aircraft, identified as a single-engine Aeronca 7AC Champion, crashed near Summit Valley Road and Telephone Canyon Road, about three miles from Hesperia Airport.

 

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but the cause of the crash had not been established as of Wednesday.

 

Kapulnik was not only a pilot and flight instructor but also an actor who appeared in several Israeli and international film productions.

He trained at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem before building a career in the entertainment industry. His acting credits included Room 514, Salsa Tel Aviv, Watch Over Me and Lebanon.

 

After moving to Los Angeles, Kapulnik continued acting while pursuing his passion for aviation. He obtained his pilot’s licence and later became a certified flight instructor.

 

His aviation career saw him teach aspiring pilots, with friends and former students describing him as passionate about flying and committed to helping others learn.

 

Kapulnik had also previously served as an officer in Israel’s elite Unit 669, a specialised search-and-rescue unit.

 

His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from friends, colleagues and people who knew him through aviation and acting.

 

Those who knew him remembered him as an adventurous and energetic man who pursued several passions throughout his life, including acting, flying and life at sea.

 

The passenger, Laska, was also killed in the crash.

 

Investigators from the relevant aviation authorities are continuing to examine the wreckage and circumstances surrounding the incident to determine what caused the aircraft to crash.

 

Kapulnik’s funeral is expected to take place in Israel.

 

Israeli Actor, Flight Instructor Among Two Killed In California Plane Crash