Authorities have confirmed the identities of four passengers onboard a private jet that crashed shortly after takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine on January 25th.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600, was registered to KTKJ Challenger LLC, associated with the Houston, Texas law firm Arnold & Itkin. This firm is led by attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin, noted for their opposition to certain immigration policies and political figures.
The plane flipped shortly after leaving the runway, igniting a fire. The crash happened during a winter storm that resulted in significant snowfall, though it’s still uncertain if this weather was a factor. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is currently underway.
Earlier reports from the Federal Aviation Administration indicated that at least seven passengers and one crew member had suffered fatalities, but more recent data now states that all six individuals on board did not survive.
The plane departed from Houston’s Hobby Airport earlier that day, arrived in Maine safely, and was headed to its final destination in France. In a press release from the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified four victims: Tara Arnold, the wife and legal partner of Kurt Arnold; the pilot Jacob Hosmer, 47, from Texas; Jorden Rydell, a 33-year-old pilot also from Texas; and Shelby Kuyawa, a 34-year-old sommelier from Hawaii. Authorities are still working to identify the final two victims.
Harris County Commissioner Leslie Briones, who is close to the Arnold family, expressed her sorrow over the accident, mentioning, “My heart aches for them, their children, and their families this evening in Maine.”
Following the tragedy, Hosmer’s family remarked, “He is now with Jesus in heaven.”
From further reports, family members have identified the last two victims as Shauna Collins, a 53-year-old event planner from Texas, and Nick Masticusa, a 43-year-old chef from Hawaii. Lakewood Church in Houston, which Collins was connected to, confirmed her passing. A church spokesperson stated, “Everyone loved her. She just had that kind of personality.” Moreover, Masticusa’s family reflected on his zest for life, highlighting his love for connections and shared experiences.
