Plane Crash in Maine Claims Six Lives, Including Texas Father

A tragic plane crash in Maine last week has claimed the life of a Texas father, identified as Jorden Reidel, who was serving as a co-pilot. The incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. on January 25, when a Bombardier Challenger 600, headed for Paris, flipped during takeoff and erupted in flames on the runway.

Reidel, 33, had a passion for aviation that began in high school. He obtained his private pilot’s license at 17, right after graduating in 2010, as noted in his obituary. “With a strong work ethic and dedication, Jorden continuously sought to enhance his skills,” it read, highlighting his achievement of receiving his helicopter rotorcraft rating in 2023 and fulfilling his dream of flight.

His friends and family will remember him fondly; Reidel had married Jennifer in April 2022 and they welcomed their daughter, Kelsey, just last year. He is survived by his wife and infant daughter, along with his parents, two sisters, a grandmother, and numerous relatives and friends.

Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that Reidel was among six victims of the crash, including Jacob Hosmer, 47, from Pearland, Texas, and Shelby Kuyawa, 34, a sommelier from Hawaii.

The other three victims identified, Tara Arnold, 46, a Houston attorney turned entrepreneur, Shawna Collins, 53, an event planner also from Houston, and Nick Mastracusa, 43, a chef from Hawaii. Arnold’s husband, Kurt, co-founded a personal injury firm where she worked, and they had been in Europe for a client scouting trip when the crash occurred during a snowstorm in Bangor while they were refueling.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board is looking into the impact of the approaching storm and whether ice buildup on the wings could have contributed to the accident. Experts indicated that similar incidents have been reported before with this type of aircraft, but they are considering all factors as they gather details.