All Bangor plane crash victims now with medical examiner in Augusta

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - The Office of Chief Medical Examiner says they have received all victims from the plane crash in Bangor.

They say officials are actively working to confirm the identities of the six victims and expect to have additional information by the end of the week.

The recovery and identification process represents a critical phase in the investigation, as authorities work to notify next of kin and provide closure to affected families.

Airport Director Jose Saavedra provided an update Wednesday afternoon on Sunday’s fatal plane crash. Six NTSB investigators are currently on site in Bangor. The FAA and additional NTSB personnel are expected to arrive by week’s end. Weather conditions delayed both the removal of the aircraft from the runway and the arrival of NTSB crews.

Bangor International Airport had been closed since Sunday night but the airport reopened at noon on Thursday.

Due to the complexity of multi-agency coordination, confirmed information is being released carefully.

The plane, N10KJ, a Bombardier Challenger 600 landed in Bangor enroute from Houston, TX’s Hobby Airport at 6:09 Sunday night, according to data from flighttracker24.com obtained by the Associated Press. The plane was on its way to Paris-Vatry Airport in France, per flight records. They stopped at BGR to de-ice and refuel.

The aircraft began departure around 7:45 p.m., meaning the plane was likely subject to the elements for over an hour during heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures before attempting takeoff. It was upon departure that the plane crashed.

According to the FAA preliminary report, the crash occurred under “unknown circumstances.” The plane came to rest inverted on the runway and caught fire. An image obtained by WABI show the aircraft’s landing gear pointed skywards.

FAA records show the plane was registered to a Houston, TX LLC. The address associated with the aircraft is home to personal injury law firm Arnold & Itkin Trial Lawyers.

While the identities of the victims have yet to be confirmed by officials, at a press conference, Harris County, TX Commissioner Lesley Briones spoke about one of those deceased as her friend, Tara Arnold. According to the law firm’s website, Tara Arnold was an attorney at Arnold & Itkin and wife of the firm’s co-founder, Kurt Arnold.

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU has identified two others on board as Shawna Collins and Nick Mastrascusa.

Another on board has been identified by friends and family as pilot Jacob Hosmer, according to CBS News. The family of Hosmer also confirmed his death on Tuesday but declined to comment further.

CBS News reports a founding partner of the Arnold & Itkin is listed as the agent for the company that owns the plane. Partners at the firm are major donors to the University of Texas football as well as other causes. The firm has so far declined to identify the passengers or comment on the crash.

Bangor officials say the National Transportation Safety Board is now handling the investigation.