Maine private jet crash linked to Houston law firm with notable litigation history

On January 25, 2026, a private Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine amid a severe winter storm, killing seven people and seriously injuring one crew member, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft, carrying eight passengers in total, flipped over and caught fire shortly after departing from Runway 33, prompting the airport's temporary closure and a joint investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Public registration records indicate the jet was owned by a corporation based in Houston, Texas that shares an address with the personal injury law firm Arnold & Itkin LLP, co-founded by attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin. Jason Itkin has been involved in high-profile litigation, including an $8 billion verdict against Johnson & Johnson and a $2.25 billion verdict in a Roundup cancer case, among other major settlements. The identities of those aboard the flight have not been released as investigations continue.