Family and friends are grieving the loss of six individuals following a tragic incident where a private jet, destined for France, crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday night. The aircraft erupted into flames, leaving no survivors.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the jet overturned and ignited as it was departing around 7:45 p.m., coinciding with the onset of Winter Storm Fern.
Just before the ill-fated takeoff, a voice was heard over the flight radio saying, “Let there be light,” as noted by the New York Post.
Numerous emergency response teams quickly converged on the scene, with air traffic controllers confirming the grim situation, stating, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.”
The FAA has yet to determine the exact cause of the crash, currently attributing it to “unknown circumstances” during departure. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been alerted and will conduct a thorough investigation.
A photo shared on social media features Tara and Kurt Arnold. Tara was reportedly among those who perished in the plane crash in Bangor, Maine, on Sunday. (Kurt Arnold/Facebook)
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.
Jacob Hosmer, a man identified as a victim in a fatal plane crash in Maine. (Jacob Hosmer/Facebook)
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.”
“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.
Shawna Collins was identified by family members as one of the victims of a fatal plane crash in Maine. (Shawna Collins/Instagram)
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.
