Lakewood Church Names Employee Shawna Collins Among Victims in Bangor, Maine, Private Jet Crash
What is confirmed so far
Lakewood Church has identified Shawna Collins, a longtime employee, as one of the people who died in a private jet crash during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The church said Collins was a member of its staff and worked in a customer service leadership role. Public authorities have not released an official list of victims as of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, while identity confirmation work continues.
The aircraft was a Bombardier Challenger business jet that had arrived in Bangor earlier that evening after departing from Houston. The crash occurred at about 7:45 p.m. Eastern time as the jet was departing Bangor on a flight plan that included travel to Europe.
Casualty count and identification process
Authorities reported shifting preliminary numbers in the hours after the crash. The latest federal update describes four passengers and two crew members aboard, with no survivors. Maine’s medical examiner is working with law enforcement to confirm identities before any public release, a process that can be prolonged when a post-crash fire is involved.
In addition to Collins, family and friends have publicly identified at least two other people as victims: pilot Jacob Hosmer and Houston attorney Tara Arnold. Officials have not publicly confirmed those names.
Aircraft ownership and Houston connections
Records reviewed by multiple outlets indicate the jet was registered through a Houston-linked corporate entity associated with the law firm Arnold & Itkin. The firm has been connected to the aircraft through registration and corporate filings; however, the passenger list has not been publicly confirmed by investigators.
Weather, de-icing, and the focus of the investigation
The crash occurred during a winter storm affecting much of the region, with snow and reduced visibility reported around Bangor at the time. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are examining the aircraft’s takeoff performance, the sequence of events immediately after departure, and operational factors typical in winter operations, including wing contamination and de-icing procedures.
A preliminary NTSB report is expected within about 30 days and will typically outline confirmed factual information gathered early in the investigation. A final report, which can take more than a year, is expected to address probable cause and contributing factors.
Impact on airport operations
Bangor International Airport closed following the crash as crews secured the scene and investigators began evidence collection. Airport operations were expected to be affected until wreckage removal and on-scene documentation are complete.
- Date of crash: January 25, 2026
- Location: Bangor International Airport, Bangor, Maine
- Lakewood Church identification: Shawna Collins named by the church as a victim
- Investigation: Led by the National Transportation Safety Board
Authorities have emphasized that official victim identification will be released only after confirmations are completed through the medical examiner process.