A private jet carrying eight people crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, authorities have confirmed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft, identified as a Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet, went down at about 7:45 p.m. local time while attempting to depart the airport.
Emergency responders, including firefighters and rescue teams from Bangor and surrounding communities, were quickly on the scene after the aircraft went down. The airport announced that the runway was closed following the incident and urged travelers to avoid the area while first responders assessed the situation and began initial recovery efforts.
The identities of the eight people aboard the plane and their conditions have not yet been released by officials, and no immediate information was available on injuries or casualties. Federal investigators from both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been dispatched to investigate the cause of the crash, with early inquiries focusing on available flight data and weather conditions at the time.
The crash took place amid a severe winter storm system that has been affecting large portions of the northeastern United States. Snow, sleet, freezing rain, and low visibility have disrupted air travel and ground transportation across the region, contributing to hazardous conditions at Bangor and other airports. Weather services had reported steady snowfall in Bangor on Sunday before the incident.
Airport officials confirmed that emergency crews remained active at the site, working to secure the area and support the ongoing response. The FAA and NTSB are expected to release further updates as their investigation progresses and more information becomes available regarding the circumstances that led to the crash.
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