Officials Say Federal Investigators On Site Of Bangor Plane Crash; Airport Will Remain Closed Until Thursday

Federal investigators have finally arrived in Maine, in an effort to get to the bottom of why a private jet crashed on a runway at Bangor International Airport on Sunday

Details On The Fatal Plane Crash At Bangor International Airport

Aimee Thibodeau, Marketing and Business Development Manager with Bangor International Airport, confirmed that the team that was called to Bangor after Sunday night's deadly scene is slated to go over the evidence on runway 33, where the impact took place, killing all six people listed on the flight's manifest.

"Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on site and are beginning the initial phases of their investigation following an aircraft accident that occurred Sunday, January 25 at Bangor International Airport (BGR). Additional personnel from both agencies are expected to arrive over the next 24 to 48 hours."

Thibodeau says the airport confirms there were 4 passengers and 2 crew members on board, figures that are now reflected in the FAA reports, as well.

She said there were no survivors.

Officials with the airport say the plane was in Bangor to fuel up and "receive de-icing services" as the weather on Sunday evening was snowy, windy, and very cold.

While many flights had been canceled in advance of this weekend's storm, planes continued to land and take off from the runways at BIA.

"The last arrival into BGR before Sunday’s accident was a scheduled domestic flight at 7:38 p.m. The last departure was a GA private aircraft at 5:33 p.m."

With investigators now on hand, and more to come, the task of examining the wreckage can begin. But Thiibodeau says it's going to take some time.

"The NTSB has asked that the scene be preserved, and at this time, the Bangor Police Department is awaiting NTSB’s approval to access the aircraft to begin the process of caring for and identifying the deceased in collaboration with the State Medical Examiner...We estimate that since Sunday night, at least 35 domestic airline arrivals and 35 departures have been or will be impacted following the accident and/or due to weather before the airport can reopen."

According to a statement BIA put out on its social media page Tuesday afternoon, the investigation has moved back the timetable for the airport, which was closed down to traffic immediately after Sunday's crash, to open back up again.

"As our federal partners continue their investigation into Sunday night's tragedy, BGR will remain closed until at least 9 AM on Thursday (Jan. 29). Those of you with travel plans this week should watch for communications from your airline. All changes to flights will be communicated from the airlines directly to passengers."

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Meanwhile, information continues to trickle out about who was aboard the plane, which was reportedly heading to Paris for a "girls' weekend."

Television stations in Houston, where the Bombardier CL-600-2B16 jet that crashed was registered to the Arnold & Itkin lawfirm was based have said one of the company's co-founders, 46-year-old Tara Arnold, a well-known Houston attorney who worked with her husband, Kurt Arnold, at a law firm they both started, was one of the passengers on board the plane when it went down.

According to a post by The Daily Mail, Arnold was heading for a trip overseas to Paris with several of her friends when the crash occurred. Officials at BIA have confirmed that the plane arrived in Bangor from Houston, Texas, and was headed to Paris-Vatry Airport in France."

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WMTW reported that close family friend, Leslie Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner in Texas, spoke with the press about how her heart and prayers go out to Kurt Arnold and the couple's young children, Jaxon and Isla.

Another Houston TV station, KPRC 2-Click 2 Houston, has released the identity of the plane's pilot.

47-year-old Jacob Hosmer, a Houston-area pilot, was the captain of the flight, according to his father, Gary, reports say.

WMTW says a third victim, Shawna Collins, a Houston-based event planner, was also on board when the plane crashed.

"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."

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Jose Saavedra, Director of the Bangor International Airport, says once the site is processed, the plane and debris will be moved to a secure hangar for further investigation.