A private Bombardier Challenger 600 carrying six to eight people crashed while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, around 7:45 p.m., during a major snowstorm, Independent reported.
Initial FAA reports suggested seven people were killed and one seriously injured, but Bangor Airport later stated that no one from the flight was transported to a hospital and all on board are presumed dead.
Poor visibility due to the winter storm may have contributed to the crash. The plane reportedly came to rest inverted and caught fire. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, with local authorities providing updated information on the passenger manifest.
Air traffic control recordings captured a chilling alert: “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,” as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
Among the passengers was prominent Texas lawyer Tara Arnold, a powerhouse attorney and partner at the Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin.
Tara was traveling with her husband, Kurt Arnold, event planner Shawna Collins, 53, and four other people, including the pilot, whose identities have not been revealed.
Tara was “a phenomenal person, a bold leader, and someone with a heart of service. My heart is with Kurt, their children, and everyone affected,” local Texas lawmaker and close family friend Lesley Briones said.
She added: “Tara was very involved in Precinct 4 and our nonprofit, Precinct 4 Forward. She had such a big heart and was deeply devoted to public service. I can’t imagine the loss her family is feeling.”
According to the New York Post, Tara lived with her two children and her ”mega-wealthy” husband in a Houston mansion.
Shawna Collins’ daughter shared that her mother had been excited about the upcoming business trip to Europe. Collins had also been a longtime employee at Lakewood Church in Houston. “Everyone adored her. She had a personality that just drew people in,” church spokesperson Donald Iloff Jr. told The Associated Press.
The pilot, 47-year-old Houston native Jacob Hosmer, also died in the crash. Hosmer had joined Arnold & Itkin just seven months ago as a “team captain,” according to his LinkedIn profile. His father, Gary Hosmer, told Click2Houston, “He’s in Heaven now with Jesus.” Friends remembered Jacob as “an excellent pilot, a devoted husband, and a dedicated father,” noting his cheerful personality.
Bangor Airport will remain closed until at least Wednesday while the NTSB investigates the crash.
Authorities are asking the public to share any surveillance footage or information that could help.
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