Texas Athletics Donor Among Six Killed in Maine Jet Crash

This image taken from video provided by WABI television, emergency services work on a scene of the Bombardier Challenger 600 crash at the Bangor Airport in Maine, late Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WABI via AP)

A Houston-registered small business jet crashed during takeoff Sunday night at Bangor International Airport in Maine, killing six people — including at least three Texans — authorities said.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down around 7:45 p.m. with eight people aboard as it departed Bangor amid winter weather, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft was registered to Houston personal injury law firm Arnold & Itkin.

Among those killed was attorney Tara Arnold, who worked for Arnold & Itkin and was married to co-founder Kurt Arnold, according to Houston TV station ABC 13. Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, a close friend of the Arnold family, commented on her relationship with Tara Arnold during a news conference updating residents on the winter storm affecting the county.

"I worked at Arnold & Itkin for a time, and so I know them well, and this is just a tragedy," Briones said. "And in particular, Tara was just a phenomenal person, a bold leader and somebody who had a heart of service."

Jacob Hosmer, 47, a Houston-area pilot and the aircraft's captain, was also killed, according to his family. Hosmer had worked for Arnold & Itkin since May 2025 and previously flew charter aircraft for multiple aviation companies, according to his LinkedIn profile.

"He was a great pilot, a loving husband and a phenomenal father," longtime friend Bob Howie, a line captain at Wing Aviation, wrote on Facebook.

Shawna Collins, an event planner, was also among those killed, ABC13 reported. Her daughter told the station Collins had spoken with family shortly before the flight and was excited about the business trip to Europe.

Kurt Arnold and his business partner Jason Itkin were not on the plane when it crashed, sources told ABC 13.

The Arnold and Itkin families are major University of Texas Athletics donors. The Longhorns printed their names on the scoreboard at Royal-Memorial Stadium in 2024 in recognition of their contributions. As of 2024, Texas said the two families had combined to pledge a total of $40 million.

In a 2024 statement, Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte called the families "unbelievably generous to The University of Texas" and said they "have great pride, passion and love for our athletics programs."

Arnold & Itkin also represents the Getten family, one of the families suing Camp Mystic in Kerr County for wrongful death after 25 campers and two counselors died during historic flooding in July 2025.

Federal investigators are examining whether weather conditions played a role. Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti said cold-weather contamination, including ice accumulation on wings, is a known concern for the Challenger series and is likely to be an early focus of the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.