Pilot identified as first of six victims in deadly Maine plane crash as his father speaks out

The pilot of the plane that crashed at Bangor International Airport has been identified as the first of the six victims who were on board.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that there had been a fatal incident at the airport on Sunday (January 25) at around 19:45 local time.

The NTSB said: “The preliminary information we have is the plane crashed upon departing Bangor International Airport and experienced a post-crash fire.”

Initial reports claimed that there were six passengers who had died, with a seventh in a serious condition in the hospital. However, this was later corrected by the airport and Bangor police, who stated that only six people had been registered on board.

At the time, a statement from the Bangor police read: “According to the flight manifest there were six people on the flight. No one from the incident was transported to the hospital, and all on the flight are presumed to be deceased.”

It is believed that all six people on board the plane have died (BNO News)

Air traffic control audio reveals that prior to take off there were discussion of low visibility conditions.

Only two minutes after the private jet was cleared for take-off another controller could be heard yelling ‘All traffic is stopped on the field! All traffic is stopped on the field!’

Shortly afterwards a controller stated: “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.”

Now, the first of the six the victims of the plane crash has been positively identified.

Pilot Jacob Hosmer has been identified as one of the six people who died in the plane crash (LinkedIn)

47-year-old Jacob Hosmer has been identified as the pilot and captain of the flight, with his father confirming his death.

Speaking to KPRC 2, his father Gary Hosmer said: “He’s in Heaven now with Jesus."

A friend of Hosmer’s wished to stay anonymous but spoke fondly of the deceased pilot, and said they knew him as their aviation specialist.

The friend, according to a Click 2 Houston report, said: “I would describe him as a great pilot, a loving husband, and a phenomenal father.

A map showing the location of the crash at the airport (Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“He was always kind. He was always laughing.”

Hosmer had been working as a pilot for Arnold and Itkin since may 2025, a peronsal injury law firm that the plane was registered to.

At the time, a statement from the Bangor police read: “According to the flight manifest there were six people on the flight.

"No one from the incident was transported to the hospital, and all on the flight are presumed to be deceased.”