Bangor, Maine — A private jet carrying eight individuals crashed shortly after takeoff at Bangor International Airport on Sunday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down at approximately 7:45 p.m. local time, with no immediate updates regarding the passengers’ conditions. The FAA, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, has launched an investigation into the incident.
This crash occurred amid a significant winter storm affecting New England and many regions across the United States. Bangor experienced consistent snowfall throughout Sunday, mirroring conditions in numerous other areas.
The intended destination of the aircraft has not been disclosed. Following the incident, the airport announced that emergency teams were responding to the scene and that operations had been halted due to the crash involving a single departing aircraft.
The airport has advised the public to steer clear of the vicinity, noting that the crash resulted in the cancellation of additional flights.
As reported by LiveATC.net, which monitors air traffic communications, air traffic controllers discussed visibility issues shortly before the crash, though it remains unclear which aircraft were involved. One controller was heard reporting that there was “a passenger aircraft upside down.”
Bangor International Airport, situated approximately 200 miles north of Boston, provides direct service to destinations such as Orlando, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina.
The winter storm that swept through the region unleashed a mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow across much of the eastern United States, disrupting both air and road travel while causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of residents in the Southeast.
Commercial air traffic faced significant challenges nationwide, with over 11,000 flights canceled and nearly 5,500 delayed on Sunday, according to flight tracker flightaware.com. Major airports in cities such as Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey were notably affected.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet typically configured to accommodate 9 to 11 passengers. Introduced in 1980, it was the first private jet designed with a “walk-about cabin” and continues to be a favored choice for charter services.
