Bodies Remain in Wreckage Two Days After Private Jet Crash in Maine
The bodies of six victims from a devastating private jet crash are still lying among the wreckage on a snowy runway in Maine, two days after the aircraft flipped over during takeoff. The Bombardier Challenger 650 business jet crashed at approximately 7:45pm on Sunday evening while departing from Bangor International Airport in Maine, killing all four passengers and two crew members on board.
Investigation Delayed by Winter Conditions
Authorities have confirmed that the victims' bodies have not been moved from the twisted and charred metal wreckage as crash investigators struggle to access the frozen runway site. The National Transportation Safety Board has requested that the scene be preserved intact, according to police statements released on Tuesday.
Bangor Police Department officials explained they are awaiting NTSB approval before accessing the aircraft to begin the process of caring for and identifying the deceased in collaboration with the State Medical Examiner. Police confirmed to media outlets that the bodies could remain in the wreckage for several more days due to these procedural requirements and challenging weather conditions.
Victims Identified Include Prominent Figures
Three of the six victims have been formally identified by their families as of Tuesday evening. Among them was Tara Arnold, 46, the wife of prominent personal injury attorney Kurt Arnold and a commercial lawyer at his firm Arnold & Itkin. Also killed was Shawna Collins, 39, a superstar event planner who organized events for the law firm through her company, and Jacob Hosmer, 47, an experienced pilot employed by Arnold & Itkin.
The remaining three victims include the second pilot and a male and female passenger believed to be friends of Tara Arnold who were accompanying her on what was described as a girls' trip to Paris. Their identities have not yet been publicly released.
Flight Details and Crash Circumstances
The ill-fated aircraft had departed from Houston earlier on Sunday, landing in Bangor at 6:09pm for refueling before its planned transatlantic journey to Paris. The plane took off at 7:44pm but crashed just moments later during takeoff procedures.
Flight data indicates the aircraft veered sharply to the right during takeoff before flipping at approximately 175 miles per hour. Dramatic footage captured the burning wreckage of the plane upside down on the runway, with black smoke filling the air around the crash site.
Weather Conditions Complicate Response
The crash occurred during Winter Storm Fern, which was affecting 34 states across the United States including Northeast Maine. The severe winter weather brought heavy snowfall and poor visibility to the region, significantly complicating access to the crash site for investigators.
Weather cameras recorded extremely limited visibility at the airport around the time of the incident. The NTSB reported that only a few investigators had managed to reach the site by Tuesday afternoon, with a full investigative team not expected to arrive until at least Wednesday due to the challenging conditions.
Radio Communications Reveal Eerie Details
Audio recordings from the aircraft's radio communications, obtained by media outlets, included an eerie statement minutes before the crash with a voice saying "let there be light". It remains unclear whether this comment came from one of the pilots or an air traffic controller, or what specifically they were referring to in the context of the flight.
Other radio communications revealed discussions between the pilots and air traffic control regarding the low visibility conditions caused by the winter storm and procedures for removing ice from the aircraft before takeoff. Less than two minutes after the tower cleared the plane for departure, controllers urgently announced: "All traffic is stopped on the field! All traffic is stopped on the field!"
Background on the Victims
Tara Arnold earned her law degree from Tulane University and had worked at her husband's firm since its establishment in 2004. Her company profile described her passion for helping victims of accidents, particularly those involving offshore oil platforms. The Arnolds were noted philanthropists who, along with law partner Jason Itkin and his wife, had donated more than $40 million to University of Texas athletics programs.
Shawna Collins was reportedly organizing her daughter's upcoming wedding at the time of her death. Her social media pages featured numerous photographs with Tara Arnold and her husband, reflecting their close personal and professional relationship.
Pilot Jacob Hosmer was described by friends as a great pilot, loving husband, and phenomenal father who had been employed by Arnold & Itkin since May 2025. His LinkedIn profile listed the law firm as his employer at the time of the crash.
Ongoing Investigation
The NTSB investigation will examine multiple factors including weather conditions, aircraft maintenance, pilot decisions, and runway conditions. The medical examiner's office will work to formally identify all victims, whose names will be officially released by Bangor Police once next of kin notifications are complete.
Arnold & Itkin, the law firm to which the aircraft was registered, confirmed that neither Kurt Arnold nor named partner Jason Itkin were aboard the plane. The firm, known for representing undocumented migrants and specializing in aviation accident litigation, quietly removed a page discussing their aviation expertise from their website following the crash.
