Executive Summary
- Six people died when a private jet crashed on takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday.
- The Bombardier Challenger 600 was registered to the address of the Houston-based Arnold & Itkin law firm.
- The NTSB is investigating the crash, which occurred during snowy conditions and resulted in a post-crash fire.
Six people were killed Sunday night when a private business jet registered to the address of a prominent Houston law firm crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine, according to airport officials.
The crash of the 2020 Bombardier Challenger 600 occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. amid cold and snowy conditions. While the Federal Aviation Administration initially reported seven fatalities, officials at Bangor International Airport later clarified via a press release that the flight manifest listed six occupants. All six are presumed deceased, and no survivors were transported to hospitals, according to the airport’s statement.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the aircraft was registered to the address of Arnold & Itkin, a high-profile personal injury law firm based in Houston co-founded by Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin. The firm did not immediately release a statement, and the identities of the victims have not been publicly released pending positive identification.
The law firm is well-known for its significant financial involvement in Texas politics and philanthropy. The founding partners recently pledged $40 million to University of Texas athletics through their family foundations. Additionally, the firm is a major donor to political campaigns via its “Texans For Truth and Liberty” political action committee, which actively supports candidates opposing tort reform.
State officials reacted publicly to the tragedy on Sunday. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows posted on the social media platform X, stating, “May God bring strength, comfort, and peace to every family impacted by this heartbreaking situation.” State Rep. Jeff Leach also issued a statement on X, offering prayers for “friends and fellow Texans affected by this tragic plane crash.”
NTSB Investigative Outlook
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has deployed a team to the site to investigate the fatality. The inquiry will focus on the standard “man, machine, and environment” matrix: examining the pilot’s actions and qualifications, the mechanical history of the Bombardier jet, and the weather conditions at the time of the attempted takeoff. A preliminary report containing factual evidence is expected to be released within 30 days, while a final determination of probable cause typically requires a year or more to complete.
