In brief
In Bangor, Maine, a Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet with eight people onboard flipped and caught fire as it attempted to take off amid a significant winter storm. Emergency services responded promptly, but the fate of those inside remains unclear. The FAA and NTSB are investigating, aiming to determine the crash's cause. This incident occurred during a weekend when heavy snowfall caused widespread disruptions across the U.S., leading to thousands of flight cancellations.
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A business jet carrying eight people flipped over and caught fire as it tried to take off during a snowstorm from Maine’s Bangor International Airport, according to federal authorities and air traffic controller recordings.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed on the airfield around 7:45 p.m. Sunday, and there was no immediate word on the conditions of those aboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating.
Preliminary information shows the plane crashed upon departure, leading to a post-crash fire. An audio of air traffic control reveals a distress call lamenting, “Aircraft upside down.”
The Bangor International Airport, known for its direct flights to major cities like Orlando and Washington D.C., was closed following the incident and remained shut on Monday.
This crash occurred during one of the largest snowstorms in recent memory, which impacted tens of thousands across the eastern U.S., resulting in power outages and extensive flight cancellations.
