The tragic details surrounding the private jet crash in Maine—where all six aboard perished—are still unfolding as investigators from the NTSB have begun their work at the crash site. Authorities are in the process of identifying the victims.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 had taken off from Houston, made a refueling stop, and was bound for Paris. However, while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, it overturned and ignited in flames. This coincided with the onset of a significant winter storm in the region.
According to the state medical examiner’s office, they are currently working on identifying the deceased, though local officials have remained tight-lipped about who was on the flight.
Thus far, friends and family have identified a few of the victims, including the wife of an attorney, an event planner, and a pilot affiliated with a prestigious law firm in Texas.
NTSB investigators arrived early Tuesday morning as questions arose concerning the potential impact of the snowy weather and subzero temperatures on this incident.
Experts have suggested that weather factors, particularly the possibility of ice accumulation on the wings, could have played a significant role in the crash, which is likely to be a key aspect of the investigation.
Reports from the Federal Aviation Administration indicate that there were four passengers and two crew members on board at the time of the accident.
One of the victims has been identified as Tara Arnold, a 46-year-old lawyer and mother from Texas, who was traveling with friends to France.
The flight’s captain, Jacob Hosmer, a 47-year-old pilot from the Houston area, also tragically lost his life in the crash.
Records show that the jet was registered to Arnold & Itkin, the notable personal injury law firm run by Tara’s husband, Kurt Arnold, where she also practiced law.
Neither Kurt Arnold nor his business partner were aboard the jet, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Among the other victims was Shona Collins, a 53-year-old event planner connected to the law firm, who had been working on her daughter’s wedding this year, according to church representatives.
Her talents as an event planner were widely recognized; “Everyone wanted her to plan their events,” remarked Donald Iloff Jr., president of Lakewood Church. “She was just that likable.”
The crash occurred amid the impacts of winter storm Fern, which is affecting much of the East Coast.
Jacob Hosmer’s father was also a casualty of the crash, as confirmed by local news sources. He had started as a pilot for the law firm last May.
Currently, the law firm involved has not commented on the identities of those on board or the details surrounding the crash.
The FAA has only stated that the plane “crashed under unknown circumstances upon departure, rolled over, came to rest, and ignited.”
