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Six Killed as Private Jet Flips on Maine Runway
4 Feb
Summary
- Six people died in a plane crash during takeoff in Maine.
- The group was en route to scout locations in France's Champagne region.
- An approaching snowstorm is a suspected factor in the crash.
A private jet carrying six people crashed and burst into flames during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday. The victims were identified as Tara Arnold, a Houston lawyer and entrepreneur; chef Nick Mastrascusa; sommelier Shelby Kuyawa; event planner Shawna Collins; and pilots Jacob Hosmer and Jorden Reidel.
They were traveling from Houston to France's Champagne region to scout properties for Arnold's luxury concierge travel firm, Beyond. The Bombardier Challenger 600 jet flipped on the runway as a snowstorm moved in, leading to the fatal accident. Arnold was known for her philanthropic work, including a $40 million pledge to the University of Texas.
Mastrascusa, an executive chef from Hawaii, and Kuyawa, a master sommelier, were part of the team assessing potential hotel sites. Collins, a longtime employee of Lakewood Church in Houston, was an event planner for Arnold's ventures. The pilots, Hosmer and Reidel, were experienced.
