Six Dead in Private Jet Crash at Bangor International Airport
A private Bombardier Challenger 600 jet crashed Sunday during an attempted takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board. The aircraft, owned by the Arnold & Itkin Law Firm, was en route to Europe after a refueling stop in Maine, having departed from Houston's Hobby Airport.
Incident Details
The crash occurred as the jet attempted to take off for the second leg of its journey.
Bangor officials reported snowy, wintry conditions at the time of the incident.
While aviation experts have suggested icy and wintry conditions as a possible factor, authorities noted that other aircraft were operating at the airport concurrently. The official cause of the crash has not yet been released.
Confirmed Casualties
All six occupants of the aircraft were pronounced deceased. Individuals identified by family or related entities include:
- Tara Arnold: An attorney and wife of Arnold & Itkin founder Kurt Arnold. Mr. Arnold and co-founder Jason Itkin were not on the aircraft.
- Jacob Hosmer: Identified as the pilot.
- Shawna Collins: An event planner and employee of Houston's Lakewood Church.
- Nick Mastrascusa: Identified as executive vice president of hospitality for a company affiliated with the Arnold family.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the remaining two victims include a co-pilot and another employee.
Investigation Underway
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived at the crash site on Tuesday to commence their inquiry. Experts anticipate that weather conditions at the time of the crash will be a primary focus of the investigation.
Statements
The Arnold & Itkin law firm has not issued an official statement regarding the incident. Lakewood Church released a statement acknowledging Shawna Collins as an employee and honoring her memory.