A tragic aviation accident in Maine has claimed seven lives and left one crew member with serious injuries after a private business jet crashed during takeoff amid severe winter weather conditions. The incident occurred at Bangor International Airport on Sunday night as a massive winter storm swept across the eastern United States.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet, carrying eight people total, went down around 7:45 pm local time shortly after departure from the airport. According to preliminary information released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft crashed and subsequently caught fire in what investigators are calling a post-crash fire incident.
Weather Conditions at Time of Accident
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the crash occurred as snowfall intensified in the region. Bangor International Airport, located approximately 200 miles north of Boston, was experiencing steady snowfall at the time of the accident, though airport operations were continuing with other aircraft landing and departing around the crash.
Airport director Jose Saavedra described the conditions, noting that while snow was falling steadily, it was the later arrival of heavier snowfall that eventually brought nearly 10 inches of accumulation to the area according to National Weather Service reports.
Immediate Aftermath and Investigation
Following the crash, Bangor International Airport was immediately shut down and will remain closed until at least noon on Wednesday to facilitate investigation and recovery operations. The FAA and NTSB have launched a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
The NTSB has indicated that while they confirmed the aircraft crashed upon departure and experienced a post-crash fire, they will not release further details until investigators arrive at the site in the coming days. The agency maintains its policy of not releasing information about victims, leaving that responsibility to local authorities.
Aircraft Ownership and Registration
Records show the jet was registered to a corporation sharing the same Houston address as Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers, a personal injury law firm. One of the firm's founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the aircraft, though the connection between the law firm and the flight remains unclear at this early stage of the investigation.
Broader Storm Impact on Travel
The crash occurred amid a powerful winter storm that disrupted travel across much of the eastern United States. Over the weekend, sleet, freezing rain, and snow halted air and road traffic while knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes, particularly in the Southeast region.
Commercial aviation was heavily affected nationwide, with approximately 12,000 flights cancelled and nearly 20,000 delayed on Sunday alone according to flight tracking service FlightAware. Major airports in cities including Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, New York, and various New Jersey locations reported significant disruptions to their operations.
About the Aircraft Involved
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet configured to carry nine to eleven passengers. First introduced in 1980, this aircraft model was notable for being the first private jet to feature a "walk-about cabin" design that provided more spacious accommodations for passengers.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the exact sequence of events that led to this tragic accident during challenging winter weather conditions. The closure of Bangor International Airport until at least Wednesday noon reflects the seriousness with which officials are treating both the investigation and recovery efforts at the crash site.
