The bodies of victims from a devastating private jet crash have finally been removed from the wreckage on a snow-covered runway, four days after the aircraft flipped over during takeoff in Maine. The recovery operation concluded on Thursday morning, bringing a sombre end to a prolonged and challenging process hampered by severe winter weather conditions.
Challenging Recovery Operation in Harsh Conditions
The Bombardier Challenger 650 business jet crashed during takeoff from Bangor International Airport at approximately 7.45pm on Sunday evening. All six people on board perished in the incident, which left the aircraft inverted and charred on the runway. The victims have been identified as prominent lawyer Tara Arnold, aged 46, chef Nick Mastrascusa, 43, wine expert Shelby Kuyawa, 34, event planner Shawna Collins, 39, and pilot Jacob Hosmer, 47. The identity of the co-pilot remains to be formally confirmed.
For days, the victims' remains were trapped within the twisted metal wreckage, which became encased in snow and ice following the crash. The Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner announced on Thursday that the bodies had been successfully extracted and that formal identification procedures were now actively in progress. Authorities expect to complete the identification process this week, after which the Bangor Police Department will officially release the names.
Investigation Hampered by Winter Storm
The delay in recovering the victims was primarily due to the immense difficulties faced by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) crash investigators in accessing the site. Winter Storm Fern, which affected 34 states across the US, brought heavy snowfall and poor visibility to northeast Maine, severely impeding the response effort. By Wednesday morning, only six investigators had managed to arrive at the airport, with the full team still en route.
Crews were forced to dig the wreckage out from under layers of ice and snow before the recovery could commence. The NTSB had initially requested that the scene be preserved intact, with the bodies remaining in situ, to allow for a thorough examination. Bangor Police stated on Tuesday that they were awaiting NTSB approval to access the aircraft to begin the process of caring for and identifying the deceased in collaboration with the State Medical Examiner.
Details of the Fatal Flight and Its Passengers
The private jet was owned by the powerful law firm Arnold & Itkin and was registered to the firm. It had departed from Houston earlier on Sunday, landing in Bangor at 6.09pm for refuelling before attempting to take off again at 7.44pm for a transatlantic journey to Paris. The group was travelling on a location scouting trip for Beyond, a luxury travel company founded by Tara Arnold and her husband, personal injury attorney Kurt Arnold.
Beyond specialises in invitation-only curated travel experiences for ultra-wealthy clients, featuring five-star resorts and exotic culinary adventures. The trip was intended to tour a French chateau and other prestigious locations for future client excursions. Mastrascusa and Kuyawa had recently joined Beyond after working at Hawaii's exclusive Kukio Golf and Beach Club, with Mastrascusa appointed as executive vice president of hospitality.
Ongoing Investigation into the Crash Cause
Flight data indicates that the aircraft veered to the right during takeoff and flipped at a speed of 175mph. Dramatic footage captured the burning wreckage upside down on the runway. The cause of the crash remains under active investigation by the NTSB, with preliminary concerns focusing on the possibility that the jet may have overbalanced due to ice accumulation on its wings. The decision to proceed with the flight in such dangerous weather conditions is likely to be a key focus of the inquiry in the coming months.
Bangor International Airport, which has been closed since the disaster, is scheduled to reopen at noon on Thursday, according to airport officials. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the communities connected to the victims, with family and friends mourning their loss. Mastrascusa's sister has launched a fundraising appeal to support his wife and three children, while tributes have poured in for Hosmer, described as a great pilot, loving husband, and phenomenal father.
In the aftermath of the crash, Arnold & Itkin quietly removed a page from its website that detailed the firm's expertise in aviation accident litigation. The firm is known for its work representing undocumented migrants among other legal areas. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding the precise sequence of events that led to this catastrophic accident during a winter storm.
