Well-known Texas attorney's wife among victims of deadly private jet crash in Maine

28 Jan 2026 By foxnews

Family and friends are mourning after six people were killed when a private business jet bound for France crashed during takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine Sunday night, erupting into flames and leaving no survivors.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the jet flipped and caught fire during departure at about 7:45 p.m. during Winter Storm Fern.

Right before takeoff, someone was heard on the flight radio saying, "Let there be light," the New York Post reported.

BUSINESS JET CRASHES AT MAINE AIRPORT LEAVING ALL PASSENGERS PRESUMED DEAD AS WINTER STORM PUMMELS US

Multiple emergency crews rushed to the accident, and controllers were heard saying, "Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down."

FAA officials have not yet released the cause of the crash, citing "unknown circumstances" on departure. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and will investigate.

The jet was registered to a partner of personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers in Houston.

Sources told local news station ABC13 Tara Arnold, an attorney at the firm and wife of founding partner Kurt Arnold, was aboard the doomed flight.

The Louisiana native was a 46-year-old mother of two, according to the firm's website.

Kurt Arnold, who has won more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements for his clients, and his business partner, Jason Itkin, were reportedly not on the flight.

Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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The pilot, Jacob Hosmer, 47, also perished in the crash, his father, Gary, told KPRC2.

Fellow aviator Bob Howie shared a photo of Hosmer on Facebook, describing him as a "very good friend."

"I'm on the right, but, on the left, is my very good friend Jacob Hosmer who was pilot-in-command last night when his Challenger 650 crashed on takeoff from Bangor, Maine," Howie wrote in a post. "I knew Jake's co-pilot equally well and had flown with him too. God bless, you guys! Godspeed and fair winds, fellas. Loved sharing the skies with y'all. Big loss."

Hosmer's cousin, David Lopez Jr., also took to social media following the tragedy, calling him "a role model."

THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS CANCELED OR DELAYED NATIONWIDE AMID WINTER STORM CHAOS

"It's surreal to think my cousin Jacob is no longer with us. He was the light of the room and his big smile was infectious," Lopez wrote on Facebook. "I don't know that I ever told him, but he was a role model to me and will be forever missed. Please pray for the entire Hosmer family during these difficult times."

Hosmer, an experienced pilot, started working for Arnold and Itkin in May 2025, according to his LinkedIn account.

A third victim was identified as Shawna Collins, according to ABC13.

Collins' daughter reportedly told the outlet her mother, an event planner, was traveling to Europe for a business trip.

The identities of the six people killed on the flight have not yet been confirmed by authorities.

The airport canceled or diverted flights after the crash and remained closed on Monday, according to a statement posted on the Bangor Maine Police Department Facebook page.

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg, Greg Wehner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.