Private Jet Crashes Amid Dangerous Winter Storm
A private jet crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, killing seven people and seriously injuring one member of the flight crew, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down around 19:45 local time (00:45 GMT Monday). The lone survivor was part of the crew, officials said. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
The crash occurred during a severe winter storm that has swept across the eastern U.S., causing several deaths, widespread power outages, and travel disruptions. Pilots reportedly struggled with poor visibility at the airport before the accident.
FAA Confirms Jet Caught Fire
The FAA said the jet “crashed under unknown circumstances on departure” and came to rest upside down, catching fire. Bangor International Airport closed after the crash, with emergency crews responding immediately. Public records show the plane is registered to a law firm in Houston, Texas.
Air traffic control audio captured by News included discussions about poor visibility just minutes before the crash. Shortly afterward, a controller reported “a passenger aircraft upside down.” Images from the scene showed smoke and flames on the runway.
Widespread Travel Disruption
The storm has caused major travel chaos. Flight tracker FlightAware reported more than 11,000 flight cancellations and nearly 5,500 delays across the U.S. on Sunday. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, New York, North Carolina, and New Jersey were affected.
The National Weather Service predicts 10 to 16 inches (25-40 cm) of snow could fall in parts of Maine, including Bangor, by Tuesday morning. Bangor remains under a winter storm warning through Tuesday.
