Multiple people died when a business jet crashed at Bangor International Airport in Maine on January 25th. According to flight records, the flight originated from Hobby Airport in Houston and was headed to France.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 stopped in Maine to refuel and on takeoff flipped over and caught fire. Bangor Airport Director Jose Saavedra said the aircraft had gone through a standard deicing process before proceeding to the runway.
“It is inexcusable an aircraft would have left the deicing area in what appears to be an asymmetrical situation,” said Podhurst Orseck Managing Partner Steve Marks.
The FAA says the aircraft “crashed under unknown circumstances on departure.”
Marks, an aviation attorney with nearly 40 years of experience in this field, told KHOU another possible factor investigators will be looking into is a locked control on one side.
“Flight controls and deicing must all undergo a preflight check. If there are any irregularities, the pilot in command has the ultimate responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft,” said Marks.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is registered to a corporation that shares the same Houston address as law firm Arnold & Itkin. According to the FAA, 2 crew members and 4 passengers were on board.
A report by Houston TV station KHOU states two of the victims are pilot Jacob Hosmer, event planner Shawna Collins, and chef Nick Mastrascusca. The law firm has not confirmed if any of their employees were on board at the time of the crash.
“This was preventable and should have never occurred. The bigger pattern we’ll want to look at is the deicing issue in general,” said Marks.
Steve Marks also provided insight into the NTSB investigation in Bangor, Maine with the Portland Press Herald.
For over 50 years, Podhurst Orseck has led the field in aviation accident litigation, building a global reputation for securing justice. We’ve represented victims and families in hundreds of high-profile cases, from commercial airline crashes and private plane accidents to military and international tragedies.
In landmark cases like Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the Boeing 737 Max disasters, our work has influenced FAA regulations, international oversight, and industry-wide practices. We are the firm regulators, lawmakers, victims, and media outlets turn to when accountability, reform, and results matter.
