A Hawaiian chef has been confirmed as one of the six individuals who tragically lost their lives in a plane crash over the weekend. The accident occurred during the aircraft’s takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the Bombardier Challenger 600 jet was set to fly to Paris, France, when it flipped over and burst into flames around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday. The incident took place amidst the harsh conditions of Winter Storm Fern.

A GoFundMe page expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Nick Mastrascusa, describing him as a parent, coach, and beloved member of their ‘ohana. The page noted that Nick tragically passed away in the plane crash on Sunday evening, January 25, in Bangor, Maine. He is survived by his partner, Natalia, and their three children, who are in the ninth, fifth, and second grades.

The ill-fated jet is registered to a business partner of the Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers, a personal injury law firm based in Houston. Sources informed ABC13 that Tara Arnold, an attorney at the firm and the spouse of founding partner Kurt Arnold, was among those aboard the flight.

The GoFundMe page further confirmed Nick Mastrascusa as one of the victims of the catastrophic plane crash. (GoFundMe)

The pilot, Jacob Hosmer, 47, also perished in the crash, his father, Gary, told KPRC2. A third victim was identified as Shawna Collins, according to ABC13. 

Mastrascusa was the executive vice president of hospitality for Beyond, a luxury travel company founded by the Arnolds, according to the New York Post.

“Nick Mastrascusa is an award-winning chef and sommelier whose culinary career has spanned more than two decades in some of the world’s most celebrated luxury hotels, private clubs, and resorts,” read a biography on the company’s website. “Most recently, he served as Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage at Discovery Land’s Kūkiʻo Golf and Beach Club on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, where he oversaw three restaurants, an exclusive wine program, and a culinary vision rooted in sophistication, soul, and a sense of place.” 

Tara and Kurt Arnold are seen in a photograph posted on social media. Tara was reportedly killed in a plane crash in Bangor, Maine. (Kurt Arnold/Facebook)

“Educated at Johnson & Wales University in Miami and later at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, Nick honed his craft under the rigorous standards of luxury hospitality,” it added. 

FAA officials have not yet released the cause of the crash, citing “unknown circumstances” on departure. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and will investigate. 

Jacob Hosmer, a man identified as a victim in a fatal plane crash in Maine. (Jacob Hosmer/Facebook)

Multiple emergency crews rushed to the accident, and controllers were heard saying, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.” 

A departing plane ahead of them radioed to the tower that visibility wasn’t great and they chose not to fly, but the winds were relatively mild and the snow, powdery and fine in the near-zero temperatures, had accumulated only a dusting, according to The Associated Press.

Shawna Collins, was identified by family members as one of the victims in a fatal plane crash in Maine. (Shawna Collins/Instagram)

Airport officials say the plane – which had stopped to refuel in Bangor — went through the standard de-icing process and got in line with other jets that took off safely, the AP reported.