Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church have mourned the loss of a Christian staff member who was killed in a private jet crash in Maine, as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
Shawna Collins, 39, an employee of the Houston-based megachurch, died when a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 650 overturned during take-off at Bangor International Airport on Sunday evening, according to reports.
Four passengers and two crew members were also killed in the crash.
A spokesperson for Lakewood Church confirmed Collins’s death, telling the Christian Post the church was “deeply saddened” by the loss of a “beloved member of our church staff and treasured friend”.
The spokesperson said Collins was travelling for personal business and described her as “a light that brightened our days” with a spirit that uplifted others.
Collins’s sister, Stefanee Tolbert, told KPLC she was a devout Christian who “loved Jesus and loved people”, adding that serving others came naturally to her.
The jet was en route to Paris and had stopped in Bangor to refuel during a major snowstorm when it overturned at around 7.45pm and burst into flames.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration later recovered the cockpit voice and data recorders.
The Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner said the victims’ remains were removed on Thursday, with formal identification ongoing.