Maine Officials Say Victims’ Remains Still Inside Wreckage

Officials at Bangor International Airport provided an update Wednesday on the investigation into a deadly plane crash that occurred Sunday night, killing six people.

According to WGME, airport officials say Bangor International Airport is expected to reopen Thursday at noon, though that timeline could change depending on weather conditions that continue to impact the investigation.

According to Airport Director Jose Saavedra, the wreckage of the Bombardier Challenger 600 remains on the tarmac, encased in snow, ice, and frozen firefighting foam. The crash site has been secured and closely monitored by the Bangor Police Department since Sunday night.

As of Wednesday, the remains of the victims were still inside the wreckage. The Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is working with law enforcement to formally identify those who were on board.

“We want to be mindful of the friends and relatives of the victims involved in this accident, as they deserve respect and privacy,” Saavedra said.

The news station reported that four of the victims were passengers who worked for a luxury travel company co-founded by one of those killed. The Daily Mail identified one of the victims as Tara Arnold, a co-founder of the company Beyond. According to the report, three additional Beyond employees died in the crash, including a private chef, a wine expert, and the company’s luxury event designer.

The remaining two victims were members of the flight crew.

The investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board with support from the Federal Aviation Administration. Saavedra said four FAA investigators and six NTSB investigators are currently on site.

“NTSB investigations focus on three primary areas,” Saavedra said. “The pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.