Six people were killed when a private jet crashed Sunday evening in Bangor, Maine, during heavy snowfall. The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down shortly after takeoff while departing for a business trip to Paris, flipping over and bursting into flames around 7:45 p.m.<\/p>\n
Among the victims was prominent Texas attorney Tara Arnold, a partner at Arnold & Itkin Law, which owned the jet. She was traveling with event planner Shawna Collins, 53, a longtime Lakewood Church employee, and pilot Jacob Hosmer, 47, a Houston native who had joined the firm seven months earlier. Three additional victims have not yet been publicly identified.<\/p>\n
The plane had landed earlier to refuel before the crash. Air traffic control recordings captured emergency alerts as crews rushed to the scene. Friends and colleagues described Arnold as a dedicated public servant and Collins as widely loved for her warm personality. Hosmer was remembered as an experienced pilot and devoted family man.<\/p>\n
The crash occurred amid dangerous winter conditions caused by Winter Storm Fern. Aviation experts noted that ice buildup on aircraft wings can severely affect lift, particularly for Challenger 600 jets in cold weather. Other pilots at the airport had voiced concerns about poor visibility and ice accumulation that night.<\/p>\n
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Bangor International Airport will remain closed until at least Wednesday as authorities continue examining the cause and identifying all victims.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"