The congregation of Joel Osteen's sprawling Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, is in mourning this week following the tragic death of a beloved staff member in a devastating private jet crash in Maine. Shawna Collins, a 39-year-old employee of the influential megachurch, was one of six individuals who lost their lives when their aircraft overturned during takeoff amid severe winter weather on Sunday evening.
A Beloved Light Extinguished
A spokesperson for Lakewood Church confirmed the heartbreaking news to the Christian Post, expressing profound sorrow. 'We can confirm with great sadness that a beloved member of our church staff and treasured friend, Shawna Collins, was on the plane that crashed in Maine on Sunday evening,' the statement read. 'She was a light that brightened our days and she possessed a beautiful spirit that lifted everyone she met. We love Shawna dearly and we will miss her more than words can express.'
The church emphasised that Collins was travelling for personal business unrelated to her church duties at the time of the accident. Her sister, Stefanee Tolbert, painted a picture of a woman deeply rooted in her faith, telling local media that Shawna's devotion to Jesus and her innate desire to serve others defined her character.
The Fatal Flight and Its Victims
The ill-fated aircraft was a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 650, which had stopped to refuel at Bangor International Airport in Maine. The refuelling occurred during light snow, mild winds, and near-freezing temperatures as Winter Storm Fern swept across the region. Moments after commencing its takeoff roll at approximately 7:45 PM, the jet, travelling at an estimated 175 miles per hour, overturned and erupted into flames.
Alongside Shawna Collins, the crash claimed the lives of four other passengers and two flight crew members. The victims included prominent commercial lawyer Tara Arnold, 46; private chef Nick Mastrascusa, 43; wine expert Shelby Kuyawa, 34; and pilot Jacob Hosmer, 47. The identity of the co-pilot has not yet been publicly released.
Investigation Hampered by Harsh Conditions
The subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) faced immediate challenges due to the heavy snowfall in Northeast Maine, which deposited around 9.5 inches of snow during the storm. It was not until Wednesday that NTSB investigators could access the crash site and begin the painstaking process of excavating the wreckage from the ice and snow.
By Thursday morning, officials from the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced that the victims' remains had finally been recovered, with formal identification procedures underway. Simultaneously, NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials successfully retrieved the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder for crucial analysis.
Questions Over Takeoff Decision Amid Weather Warnings
As the investigation progresses, significant questions are being raised about the decision to allow the private jet to depart. Concerns are mounting that a dangerous buildup of ice on the aircraft's wings may have caused it to overbalance. These concerns are amplified by radio transmissions from other pilots at the airport that evening, who expressed grave doubts about the deteriorating conditions.
Minutes before the Challenger jet attempted its takeoff, the crew of an Allegiant Air Boeing 737 Max aborted their own departure after manually checking for ice. 'One, our deice fluid has failed, and two, I don't think the visibility is good enough for us to go,' the pilot reported to air traffic control, noting that light, powdery snow was sticking to the plane immediately after anti-icing measures were applied. Pilots from a Breeze Airways flight similarly voiced frustrations, with one remarking, 'Yeah, my guys are trying to make us go, but I keep telling them this is stupid.'
It remains unclear whether the crew of the Challenger jet were aware of these exchanges. Just two minutes after the Allegiant pilot's report, the Challenger reported it was ready for departure. Ten minutes later, the horrified crews of the other aircraft witnessed the catastrophic crash.
At a Wednesday news conference, Bangor International Airport Director Jose Saavedra sought to downplay the perceived risks, stating that other planes were landing and departing around that time and that the airport is routinely prepared for severe weather, which he described as 'normal for us.'
The Flight's Purpose and Connections
The private jet was owned by the powerful Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin, known for its work in personal injury and migrant defence cases. The flight was destined for Paris, France, on a location-scouting mission for 'Beyond,' a luxury, invitation-only travel venture founded by Tara Arnold and her husband, attorney Kurt Arnold.
Beyond specialises in curating exclusive, high-end travel experiences, including five-star resort stays and exotic culinary adventures for an ultra-wealthy clientele. Both Nick Mastrascusa and Shelby Kuyawa had recently joined the venture after leaving an exclusive Hawaiian resort, with Mastrascusa serving as Executive Vice President of Hospitality.
Shawna Collins, a friend of Tara Arnold, was intricately connected to the venture and the law firm. Listed on Beyond's website as a 'luxury event designer and experience curator,' she was essential to the scouting trip. Her own company planned events for Arnold & Itkin, and her social media profiles featured numerous photos with the Arnold family. In a poignant personal detail, Collins was also in the midst of organising her daughter's upcoming wedding.
In a notable post-crash development, a webpage detailing Arnold & Itkin's expertise in aviation accident litigation was quietly removed from the firm's official website.
The community in Houston and the wider congregation of Lakewood Church now grapple with the immense loss of a woman described as a radiant spirit, while federal investigators work diligently to piece together the final, tragic moments of Flight N50VJ.
