Local News
Pilot Jacob Hosmer and Shawna Collins killed in Bangor private jet crash
Family members and close friends are grieving following a fatal aviation accident that claimed the lives of six people after a private business jet crashed during takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday night.
The aircraft, which was en route to France, erupted into flames after overturning on the runway, and authorities have confirmed that there were no survivors.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. as the jet was departing amid severe winter weather conditions associated with Winter Storm Fern.
The FAA stated that the aircraft flipped during takeoff and subsequently caught fire. Emergency responders were dispatched immediately to the scene.
Audio from air traffic control communications captured moments surrounding the crash. Shortly before departure, a transmission was heard stating, โLet there be light.โ In the moments following the accident, air traffic controllers could be heard reporting, โAircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.โ
The FAA has not yet determined the cause of the crash, citing unknown circumstances surrounding the departure.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and will lead the investigation into the incident.
The jet was registered to a partner of the Houston-based personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers.
Sources confirmed that Tara Arnold, an attorney with the firm and the wife of founding partner Kurt Arnold, was among those on board.
Tara Arnold, a 46-year-old mother of two and a native of Louisiana, was described on the firmโs website as a seasoned legal professional.
Kurt Arnold, who has reportedly secured more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements during his legal career, and his law partner Jason Itkin were not aboard the flight, according to sources.
The pilot of the aircraft, Jacob Hosmer, 47, was also killed in the crash. Hosmer, an experienced aviator, began working for Arnold and Itkin in May 2025, according to his professional profile.
Fellow pilot Bob Howie shared a tribute to Hosmer on social media, posting a photograph of the two together and describing Hosmer as a close friend and respected pilot.
โIโm on the right, but on the left is my very good friend Jacob Hosmer, who was pilot-in-command last night when his Challenger 650 crashed on takeoff from Bangor, Maine,โ Howie wrote. โI knew Jakeโs co-pilot equally well and had flown with him too. God bless you guys. Godspeed and fair winds. Loved sharing the skies with you. A big loss.โ
Hosmerโs cousin, David Lopez Jr., also posted a tribute, calling him a role model and remembering him as someone whose presence brought light to those around him. โItโs surreal to think my cousin Jacob is no longer with us,โ Lopez wrote. โHe was the light of the room, and his smile was infectious. He will be forever missed.โ
Another victim was identified by family members as Shawna Collins, an event planner.
According to her daughter, Collins was traveling to Europe for a work-related trip at the time of the crash.
Authorities have not yet officially released the names of all six individuals killed in the accident.
In the aftermath of the crash, Bangor International Airport canceled or diverted incoming and outgoing flights and remained closed into Monday, according to a statement issued by the Bangor Police Department on social media.
Officials urged the public to avoid the area while emergency operations and the preliminary investigation continued.
The NTSB and FAA are expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Local News
Three Killed in Highway 61 Crash Near Walls, Mississippi; Victims Identified as Latasha Dodson, Eddie Dodson, and Tamenshia Ford
WALLS, Mississippi โ Three people were killed in a serious collision Wednesday evening near U.S. Highway 61 and Church Road in Walls, leaving multiple families grieving and a community mourning the sudden loss of their loved ones.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 8:04 p.m. and involved a 2021 Honda Accord and another vehicle driven by 27-year-old DaโQuarius M. Burton of Memphis, Tennessee.
Authorities identified the three people who died inside the Honda Accord as:
- Latasha N. Dodson, 37, of Horn Lake
- Eddie L. Dodson, 41, of Byhalia
- Tamenshia R. Ford, 32, of Horn Lake
All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash also left two people injured. DaโQuarius M. Burton, who was driving the other vehicle, survived the collision, as did a fourth occupant of the Honda Accord whose identity has not yet been released.
Both survivors were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Officials have not provided an update on their conditions.
The circumstances leading up to the collision remain under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
The tragedy has also deeply affected local law enforcement and public service communities. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of its juvenile detention officers was among those who died in the crash. Another employee was seriously injured.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office remembered its fallen employee as a respected and beloved member of the team who demonstrated kindness, compassion, and dedication to the young people entrusted to their care.
The department also recognized the lasting difference the employee made through their work and the positive influence they had on others.
Officials have not publicly identified which of the three victims worked for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Walls Police Department also confirmed that one of its patrol officers was involved in the collision. However, the department has not clarified the officer’s condition or released additional information about the circumstances surrounding their involvement.
The crash has therefore brought grief and concern to several public safety agencies, including the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and the Walls Police Department.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash near Highway 61 and Church Road. Authorities have not released a determination about what caused the vehicles to collide.
Further information may become available as investigators review the circumstances of the incident and complete their work.
The deaths of Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford represent an enormous loss for their families, friends, and everyone who knew them.
Three individuals from different communities have now been lost in a single devastating incident. Their loved ones are left to face the difficult days ahead while holding on to the memories they shared.
The loss has also been felt by colleagues and members of the local public safety community, particularly those mourning the juvenile detention officer remembered for compassion and dedication to young people.
During this painful time, thoughts are with the families of all three victims, the injured survivors, and the employees of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and Walls Police Department.
May Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford rest in peace.