A spokesperson for the RSG group of gym outlets, which includes Gold’s Gym and McFit, confirmed Monday that founder and CEO Reiner Schaller, family and friends were on board the small plane. (Chris D. Swab, Shutterstock)
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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — A spokesman for the RSG Group of gym outlets, which includes Gold’s Gym and McFit, confirmed Monday that founder and CEO Reiner Schaller, family and friends were on board the small plane. .
Company spokeswoman Kristen Kaufman delivered a message on Monday confirming that Reiner Schaller “had his family and two others on board the plane when it crashed.”
The company did not confirm Schaller’s death, despite the fact that a search party found two bodies at sea, a package and debris from the aircraft.
“We are shocked, stunned and saddened by this tragic accident,” the RSG statement said. , with the family during this difficult time.”
“We are unable to comment further at this time as the situation is currently being investigated on-site. We appreciate your understanding.”
Schaller is listed as “Founder, Owner and CEO of RSG Group”. RSG Group operates in 48 countries and, directly or through franchises, he is a conglomerate of 21 fitness, lifestyle and fashion brands with 41,000 employees.
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Security said on Sunday that the bodies of an adult and a child had been found about 27 miles offshore from Limon airport, but said the bodies had not yet been identified.
Searchers also found backpacks, bags and debris from an airplane.
All five passengers were German. The pilot of the plane was Swiss.
Costa Rican officials said debris from a twin-engine turboprop plane was found in the water on Saturday after the flight went missing on Friday.
The plane was a nine-passenger Italian Piaggio P180 Avanti known for its distinctive profile. It disappeared off the radar en route to the coastal resort town of Limon.
The security ministry said the flight departed from Mexico.
Schaller made news in 2010 for his role as organizer of the Berlin Love Parade Techno Festival. Twenty-one people were killed and more than 500 injured in clashes at the event. Officials at the time said Schaller’s guards were unable to stop people pouring into the tunnel when the situation was already tense at the entrance to the festival grounds.
Schaller has fought back against accusations of wrongdoing, noting that his security concept has received official approval from the city.
