The four passengers killed in a plane in Bangor on Sunday evening worked for a luxury travel company co-founded by one of the victims.
Beyond was founded by Kurt and Tara Arnold based on the couple’s “passion to travel the world in a way that combines inspiring destinations with world-class service and exquisite private estates, culminating in not just a vacation but an experience beyond imagination,” according its website.
Tara Arnold, listed as Beyond’s CEO, was one of the passengers killed in Sunday’s crash.
Kurt Arnold was not on the plane. He is a founder of the Texas personal-injury law firm Arnold & Itkin and is one of two named directors of KTKJ Challenger, the LLC that owned the plane that crashed in Bangor.
The Bangor Daily News reached out to Arnold & Itkin on Wednesday for a comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Also killed in the crash were Beyond team members Nick Mastrascusa, a private chef; Shelby Kuyawa, a sommelier and hospitality professional; and Shawna Collins, Beyond’s luxury event designer and experience curator.
Pilot Jacob Hosmer, who is not listed on Beyond’s website, was killed in the crash. The identity of the second crew member remains unknown.
The private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 600, had stopped in Bangor to refuel and was headed to Paris when it flipped over and caught fire as it was taking off around 7:45 p.m. Sunday at Bangor International Airport.
As of Wednesday afternoon, remains of the victims were still trapped in the wreckage, according to Airport Director Jose Saavedra. The remains of the plane were covered in frozen firefighting foam.
The medical examiner’s office and National Transportation Safety Board are coordinating victim recovery, a NTSB spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon.
