Pilot, Attorney and Event Planner Identified Among Six Killed in Bangor Airport Takeoff Crash

Authorities have identified the first victims of the private jet accident that occurred during takeoff at Bangor International Airport on the evening of Jan. 25. Among the six people who died were pilot Jacob Hosmer, attorney Tara Arnold and event planner Shawna Collins.

What Happened

A Bombardier Challenger 650 attempted to depart Bangor International Airport at about 7:45 p.m. local time on Sunday, Jan. 25, when it crashed during takeoff, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told PEOPLE. An updated FAA accident notice later confirmed that six people aboard the aircraft died; four were passengers and two were crew. Initial FAA reporting briefly indicated seven fatalities with one survivor, but that information was corrected.

Victims and Personal Details

NBC affiliate KPRC identified Jacob Hosmer, a 47-year-old Houston-area pilot, as the flight’s captain. His father confirmed his death and told reporters, “He’s in Heaven now with Jesus.” A longtime friend who had known Hosmer for 15 years described him as “a great pilot, a loving husband, and a phenomenal father,” adding that he was always kind and often laughing.

Sources told ABC affiliate KTRK that attorney Tara Arnold — married to Arnold & Itkin co-founder Kurt Arnold — was among those killed. Arnold & Itkin, a Houston-based personal injury law firm, had not issued an official statement about the crash as of Jan. 27. Event planner Shawna Collins was also confirmed to be on the flight by her daughter, who said Collins had spoken about the business trip shortly before departure.

Aircraft, Ownership And Timeline

Reuters reported that the jet had arrived from Texas and is registered to a company at a Houston address associated with the law firm Arnold & Itkin. Airport officials said the flight manifest listed six people on board; no one from the flight was transported to a hospital and all on board are presumed deceased pending positive identification.

Emergency Response And Crash Conditions

An air-traffic-control audio recording captured a controller saying, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.” Airport Director Jose Saavedra told the Associated Press that first responders reached the scene in less than a minute. The FAA said the aircraft caught fire after the crash.

The airport was being affected by Winter Storm Fern at the time, and snow was falling during the incident, local outlets reported. Authorities said investigators have not yet determined the exact circumstances that led to the accident; the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are involved in the ongoing investigation.

Ongoing Investigation

Officials have emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages. The FAA’s accident notice and statements from local authorities and media outlets have provided initial details, but formal findings about cause and contributing factors will come after a comprehensive probe by federal investigators.

Sources: FAA, NTSB, Reuters, KPRC, KTRK, Associated Press.