A small business jet crashed just after takeoff from Bangor International Airport late Sunday, erupting in flames and claiming six lives during a fierce
Maine blizzard. The Bombardier Challenger 600 had touched down around 6 pm for fuel after flying from Houston's Hobby Airport, then tried roaring back into snowy skies toward Paris roughly 90 minutes later. Federal Aviation Administration records show eight souls were listed originally, but Bangor police clarified only six boarded—no survivors reached hospitals amid the post-crash fire. Witnesses heard a thunderous roar cut short, followed by thick black smoke rising over runways as emergency crews raced in. The plane belonged to Houston law firm Arnold & Itkin, carrying staff on what was billed as a work trip overseas. Tara Arnold, 46, wife of firm co-founder Kurt Arnold and a respected attorney herself, was identified first—now pilot Jacob Hosmer and event planner Shawna Collins join the heartbreaking list. Airport operations halted immediately, stranding flights with runways scarred and debris scattered—reopening eyed for January 28.
Jacob Hosmer: Veteran Pilot's Final Flight
Jacob Hosmer, 47, gripped the controls as captain, a Houston-area flier who'd joined Arnold & Itkin in May 2025 after stints at Wing Aviation, Apollo Aviation, and Priester Aviation on private charters. His father, Gary Hosmer, shared raw grief with KPRC2: "He's in Heaven now with Jesus." Friends painted him as rock-solid—always laughing, kind to a fault, devoted dad and husband who lit up cockpits.
Bob Howie, a line captain at Wing Aviation Charter Services and longtime buddy, posted a photo of them grinning together on Facebook late Sunday. "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. "I knew Jake's co-pilot equally well... Godspeed and fair winds, fellas. Loved sharing the skies with y'all. Big loss." Aviation circles buzz with tributes, recalling Hosmer's steady hand on tough routes.
Hosmer's logbooks brimmed with hours on similar jets, but none prepped for blizzard takeoffs where seconds count.
Shawna Collins: Event Planner's Bright Spark
Shawna Collins, the event planner, lit up conversations about her upcoming Europe jaunt right up to boarding—her daughter confirmed the awful news to ABC13 Monday, recalling a Sunday chat full of excitement for the business meetings ahead. Collins radiated warmth, blending faith, family, and flair in her work that touched church circles and corporate gigs. Colleagues remembered her Sunday school energy spilling into every planner's detail.
Angel Vega Padron, who'd teamed with Collins at Lakewood events, poured out memories on Facebook: "This is such a tragedy... She was beautiful inside and out and had such a love for God, her Family and Church." Padron called it a pleasure working beside her, sending prayers to families and friends touched by Collins' "absolute beautiful soul." Her daughter echoed the loss, noting mom's zeal for the trip that turned fatal.
Collins leaves a void in Houston's event scene, where her touches made gatherings unforgettable.
Blizzard Takeoff: Ice Suspected in Probe
Aviation pros zero in on weather as culprit—the Challenger 600 series has tangled with cold takeoffs before, where even thin ice sheets on wings spell doom. Consultant Jeff Guzzetti told New York Post that freezing rain or snow demands de-icing rituals pre-roll; skip it, and lift vanishes. "Given the weather conditions... I'm sure that's something the NTSB is going to look into immediately," Guzzetti said.
NTSB leads the crash investigation, sifting wreckage for black boxes, maintenance logs, and crew decisions amid gusts and whiteout. Other planes handled the storm fine around 7:45 pm, per airport logs, spotlighting this jet's path. Families await answers while Houston's tight-knit aviation world rallies—funds pop up for Hosmer and Collins' loved ones.
Blizzard warnings blanketed Maine, but no one saw this coming.
Houston Firm Mourns, Community Rallies
Arnold & Itkin issued a quiet statement on the crash, hearts heavy over Tara Arnold, Hosmer, Collins, and three others yet unnamed—firm jets often whisk teams global for cases. Houston buzzes with shock; LinkedIn profiles and Instagram glimpses show victims' full lives cut short. Church friends plan vigils, pilots swap skies stories honoring Hosmer's legacy.
Gary Hosmer clings to faith amid funeral plans; Shawna's daughter fields calls, cherishing last words. Bangor Airport's silence underscores the toll—six gone in a blink, from elite lawyer's wife to cockpit pro and joyful planner. As crews clear runways, questions linger on preventing next winter's heartbreak. Grief binds Houston to Maine tonight.
