A young aviator who has a young daughter is the last person to be recognized as a victim of a tragic private jet accident, a week after the incident that claimed six lives.
Jorden Reidel, 33, was serving as the co-pilot alongside his captain Jacob Hosmer, 47, when the aircraft crashed in snowy conditions during takeoff from Bangor International Airport inMaine.
The Bombardier Challenger 650 private jet tilted to one side and flipped over shortly after takeoff at approximately 7:45pm on January 25.
Four travelers — renowned attorney Tara Arnold, 46, chef Nick Mastrascusa, 43, wine specialist Shelby Kuyawa, 34, and event coordinator Shawna Collins, 39 — lost their lives as well.
The aircraft was owned by the influential law firm Arnold & Itkin, and was en route to Paris as part of a journey for Arnold and her husband Kurt's high-end travel business.
Riedel, whose identity had not been previously recognized, was officially confirmed on Tuesday by the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
The pilot has been in the air since 2011 and relocated to Willis, Texas, near Houston, where Arnold & Itkin is based, in 2020.
Reidel tied the knot with his wife Jennifer in April 2022, and they welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2024 – captured in photos Jennifer shared on social media.
The pilot posted numerous images showcasing his high-flying lifestyle, featuring him in the cockpit, lounging on beaches and by hotel pools, and attending Houston Texans NFL matches.
Jennifer, an HR professional at the power infrastructure firm Sabre Industries, referred to him as her 'forever valentine' in her Facebook profile image.
The pair connected on December 27, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at a cozy, late-evening establishment named Fat Cats.
'Jennifer had no desire to visit this bar, but she gave Jorden a glance that he immediately recognized as the look of his future wife,' their wedding website recounted.
They tied the knot at the Emerald Grande located at HarborWalk Village in Destin, Florida, during a three-day wedding celebration.
Reidel and the other victims were trapped by snow and ice for days within the twisted, burnt metal as crash investigators faced difficulties in reaching the frozen runway.
The bodies were eventually recovered on Thursday, with the medical examiner officially confirming the identities of Kuyawa, Arnold, Hosmer, and Reidel on Tuesday.
All the deceased, other than Reidel, had already been recognized by their relatives and acquaintances.
Winter Storm Fern hit Northeast Maine, along with 34 other states across the United States, causing challenges in reaching the location.
Heart-wrenching video captured the plane's wreckage engulfed in flames, flipped over on the runway. According to flight data, the aircraft swerved to the right during takeoff and overturned at a speed of 175mph.
The reason for the crash is being looked into, with concerns that the aircraftcould have become unbalanced because of ice accumulating on its wings.
The aircraft was owned by the influential law firm Arnold & Itkin, and was en route to Paris as part of a journey for Arnold and her husband Kurt's high-end travel business.
Arnold, aged 46, organized the journey as part of her latest high-end travel venture called Beyond, according to a person connected to the travelers who spoke to the Daily Mail.
Beyond offers exclusive, personalized travel opportunities for high-net-worth individuals, featuring accommodations at luxury five-star hotels and unique gastronomic journeys.
It remains uncertain why the flight proceeded under such hazardous circumstances, a matter expected to create concern for the aircraft's owners in the months ahead.
Mastrascusa and Kuyawa moved to Beyond following their departure from Kukio Golf and Beach Club in Kamuela, which is known as Hawaii's most luxurious resort, towards the end of last year.
The Arnolds took them on to play important roles in the new business, with Mastrascusa named as executive vice president of hospitality and responsible for creating the food experiences that would distinguish the company.
Arnold worked as a leading commercial lawyer at her husband Kurt Arnold's law firm, Arnold & Itkin, which she joined shortly after its establishment in 2004.
Arnold was a leading commercial lawyer at Arnold & Itkin, a firm she joined shortly after its establishment in 2004.
She and Kurt resided in an $11 million house in Houston, accompanied by their two kids, Jaxon and Isla.
Collins was acquainted with Arnold and organized events for the company via her business. Her online profiles feature many pictures alongside Arnold and her spouse.
She was arranging her daughter Keaton Milburn's upcoming wedding following her engagement to Brandon Dawkins, a sports marketing professional at Adidas.
Collins was identified as the 'luxury event designer and experience curator' on Beyond's website and would play a key role in selecting the locations for the trip.
The aircraft departed Houston earlier on Sunday, arriving at 6:09pm and departing again at 7:44pm following a refueling stop for its transatlantic voyage to Paris for the group's trip.
Arnold & Itkin, the company to which the crashed aircraft was registered, is recognized for representing undocumented immigrants.
A webpage highlighting the company's experience in aviation accident cases was taken down from its site following the incident.
Valeria, the sister of Mastrascusa, requested contributions to cover his funeral expenses and assist his wife Natalia along with their three children: Analani, aged 14, Mateo, 10, and Noah, who is 7.
"Nick influenced the lives of many within our community through his kindness, commitment, generosity, and friendship," she wrote.
In the face of this unimaginable sorrow, our thoughts are with the Mastrascusa family and everyone who knew and cherished Nick.
A companion of Hosmer mentioned that he had known him for 15 years in the field of aviation.
I would characterize him as an exceptional pilot, a caring husband, and an outstanding father," they said. "He was consistently kind. He was always laughing.
Hosmer's LinkedIn profile indicates that he has been employed by Arnold & Itkin LLP since May 2025.
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