Oscar-winning film composer James Horner was killed Monday in a plane crash, his assistant Sylvia Patrycja revealed on Facebook.

"A great tragedy has struck my family today ... We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent," Patrycja said on Facebook. "He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love."

Reports surfaced Monday evening that Horner may have been on board when the aircraft crashed near Santa Barbara earlier in the day. At press time, the exact details of the incident hadn't been revealed.

The 61-year-old was best known for scoring beloved films such as Titanic, Field of Dreams, Avatar and Braveheart, among many others.