The bodies of the six people who died when their private jet crashed in Maine during a snowstorm are still lying in the charred wreckage — days after the craft flipped over and burst into flames during takeoff.
The remnants of the doomed Bombardier Challenger 600, as well as the remains of those aboard, remained untouched on the frozen runway at Bangor International Airport late Tuesday as federal investigators arrived.
Local cops haven’t yet been able to access the wreckage to start positively identifying the victims after the National Transportation Safety Board asked that the “scene be preserved.”
“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,” a Bangor police spokesman said.
The luxury business jet, which had arrived from Houston and was refueling en route to Paris, went up in flames around 7:45 p.m. Sunday — just as the nation’s massive winter storm was beginning to pound the region.
Among those on board was Tara Arnold, a 46-year-old powerhouse lawyer and mom from Texas.
The jet was registered to Tara’s husband Kurt Arnold’s personal injury firm, Arnold & Itkin Law, where she also worked as a lawyer, records show.
The others killed include Shawna Collins, a 53-year-old event planner who counted the law firm among her clients; Jacob Hosmer, the 47-year-old pilot; and Nick Mastrascusa, the executive vice president of hospitality for a luxury travel company owned by the Arnold family.
The two remaining victims haven’t yet been identified but are believed to be the plane’s co-pilot and another law firm employee, sources told ABC13.
Meanwhile, NTSB investigators arrived on the scene Tuesday as questions mounted over whether the snowy weather and freezing temperatures played a role in the tragedy.
Additional crews were expected to arrive through Wednesday, cops said.
“When an accident such as this occurs, there are numerous local, state and federal agencies and assets that must coordinate their respective portions of the investigation,” the police spokesperson said.
“With the large number of stakeholders involved, it is important that information be confirmed and that all parties have completed their work before information is released.”