Wife of Houston law firm partner identified as one victim of Bangor, Maine, plane crash
Tara Arnold is being remembered as a great person and leader
Updated: 10:00 AM EST Jan 27, 2026
Several people died when a private jet crashed at the Bangor International Jetport in Bangor, Maine, on Sunday.As of Monday afternoon, investigators had not released the names of any of the victims, but ABC affiliate KTRK identified one of the victims through multiple sources as Tara Arnold, wife of Kurt Arnold, who is one of the founders of the Arnold & Itkin law firm. A source familiar with the situation told Maine’s Total Coverage on Monday the plane was was being utilized by the Arnold & Itkin law firm in Houston, Texas and Federal Aviation Administration records showed the registered address of being with that firm. “I am close friends with Kurt and Tara Arnold,” said Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner. “My heart hurts for them and their children and their families. I worked at Arnold & Itkin for a time and so I know them well. This is just a tragedy and in particular Tara, she is just a phenomenal person, a bold leader and somebody who had a heart of service.”We have also learned the names of two other victims.Families of Shawna Collins and Jacob Hosmer told ABC News that they both died in the crash. Collins’ daughter told ABC that she had spoken to her mother on Sunday before the flight, and Collins was excited about her upcoming business trip to Europe. Hosmer’s cousin told ABC News that Hosmer was the pilot who died, saying, “he is in Heaven now with Jesus.”The identities of the plane crash victims have yet to be released by federal or state officials.
BANGOR, Maine —
Several people died when a private jet crashed at the Bangor International Jetport in Bangor, Maine, on Sunday.
As of Monday afternoon, investigators had not released the names of any of the victims, but ABC affiliate KTRK identified one of the victims through multiple sources as Tara Arnold, wife of Kurt Arnold, who is one of the founders of the Arnold & Itkin law firm.
A source familiar with the situation told Maine’s Total Coverage on Monday the plane was was being utilized by the Arnold & Itkin law firm in Houston, Texas and Federal Aviation Administration records showed the registered address of being with that firm.
“I am close friends with Kurt and Tara Arnold,” said Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner. “My heart hurts for them and their children and their families. I worked at Arnold & Itkin for a time and so I know them well. This is just a tragedy and in particular Tara, she is just a phenomenal person, a bold leader and somebody who had a heart of service.”
We have also learned the names of two other victims.
Families of Shawna Collins and Jacob Hosmer told ABC News that they both died in the crash. Collins’ daughter told ABC that she had spoken to her mother on Sunday before the flight, and Collins was excited about her upcoming business trip to Europe.
Hosmer’s cousin told ABC News that Hosmer was the pilot who died, saying, “he is in Heaven now with Jesus.”
The identities of the plane crash victims have yet to be released by federal or state officials.