PROMINENT TEXAS ATTORNEY TARA ARNOLD AMONG THOSE KILLED IN MAINE PLANE CRASH

BANGOR, Maine — A private jet crashed while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport amid snowy conditions Sunday night, killing all six people aboard, including Tara Arnold, a senior attorney at a Houston personal injury law firm and the wife of co-founder Kurt Arnold. 

The Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet flipped and caught fire around 7:45 p.m. as it prepared to depart for France during deteriorating weather associated with a major winter storm affecting the Northeast. Officials said all six aboard are presumed dead. 

Arnold, 46, was a senior attorney at Arnold & Itkin, a prominent personal injury law firm based in Houston. She was married to the firm’s co-founder, Kurt Arnold, and had been identified by local officials as one of the victims. Another victim confirmed so far is event planner Shawna Collins; the names of the other four have not yet been released. 

Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board investigators have launched an inquiry into the crash, which occurred amid heavy snow and low visibility. Early audio from air traffic control recordings described the aircraft being “upside down” moments after takeoff clearance. 

Arnold was active in the Houston community and involved in several civic and nonprofit efforts, colleagues and local officials said. Officials have not provided details on the others aboard or the possible causes of the crash, and the airport remains closed as recovery and investigation efforts continue.