Seven individuals lost their lives, and a crew member sustained severe injuries when a private jet crashed at Bangor International Airport during a snowstorm in the United States. The incident occurred as the Bombardier Challenger 600, carrying eight passengers, crashed during take-off from the Maine airport on Sunday night amid adverse weather conditions caused by a winter storm.
Following the crash, the airport, located about 200 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts, was temporarily shut down. While heavy snowfall was reported in various parts of the country, accumulation had just begun in Bangor, and other flights had been departing safely earlier.
The jet is registered to a corporation with the same address as the Houston-based personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration are conducting investigations into the tragic event.
Preliminary information from the NTSB indicates that the plane crashed during take-off and subsequently caught fire. The NTSB will provide further updates once investigators arrive at the scene. The airport director, Jose Saavedra, refrained from commenting further and stated that he was awaiting guidance from federal partners during a press conference.
First responders quickly arrived at the crash site after receiving reports from air traffic controllers. Bangor International Airport, which offers direct flights to cities like Orlando, Washington DC, and Charlotte, will remain closed until at least Wednesday noon due to the aftermath of the incident.
The crash coincided with a significant winter storm affecting New England and other regions, with Bangor experiencing steady snowfall. The National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, reported nearly 10 inches of snow at the airport, emphasizing their readiness to respond to weather-related challenges.
Despite the disruptions in commercial air traffic across the U.S., the Bangor airport remains operational under its joint-use agreement with the Maine Air National Guard, highlighting its ability to handle adverse weather conditions.