'Titanic' music composer Horner dies in plane crash

James Horner, the celebrated composer of several Hollywood blockbusters, including Titanic and Avatar, died on Monday in a plane crash at the age of 61, US media reported.

Hollywood trade magazine Variety reported the composer died when his personal aircraft crashed in Santa Barbara, California.

"Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones," director and colleague Ron Howard wrote on Twitter.