Private Jet Tragedy Rocks Texas Legal Elite
Tara Arnold, 46, a top commercial lawyer and the wife of powerful Texas personal injury attorney Kurt Arnold, was among six victims who died in a devastating private jet crash. The Bombardier Challenger 650 went down during takeoff from Bangor International Airport, Maine, in a snowy winter storm as the group embarked on a girls’ trip to Paris.
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Arnold, a seasoned lawyer at the Houston-based firm Arnold & Itkin LLP, known for representing undocumented migrants and aviation accident cases, boarded the plane with several close friends. Among the dead was event planner Shawna Collins and the jet’s Houston-area pilot, Jacob Hosmer, 47. Witnesses described the plane lifting off before crashing and flipping over at around 175mph.
Who Were the Victims?
- Tara Arnold: Commercial lawyer with decades of experience, married to Kurt Arnold. The couple lived in an $11 million Houston mansion with their two children, Jaxon and Isla.
- Shawna Collins: Event planner, excited about the business trip to Europe, according to her daughter.
- Jacob Hosmer: Pilot for Arnold & Itkin LLP since May 2025, described by friends as a “great pilot, loving husband, and phenomenal father.”
Authorities confirmed all six on board perished. Early FAA reports mistakenly said eight were onboard, with one crew member surviving.
Crash Details & Weather Chaos
The crash happened at approximately 7:45pm Sunday amid a fierce winter storm dubbed Fern, causing poor visibility with heavy snow and ice. The plane veered right during takeoff, flipped, and burst into flames. Dramatic footage shows twisted wreckage upside down on the runway with black smoke pouring out.
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