Seven people were killed and one crew member was critically injured after a private business jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, as a large winter storm swept across New England and much of the United States. Federal aviation authorities confirmed the fatalities and said the sole survivor was transported for emergency medical treatment with serious injuries.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600, was carrying eight people when it went down shortly after being cleared for departure at approximately 7:45 p.m. The crash occurred during the early stages of snowfall in the Bangor area, though officials said flight operations were continuing at the airport around the same time. Other aircraft were able to land and depart safely before and after the incident, according to airport and aviation officials.
Following the crash, Bangor International Airport was closed to all traffic as emergency crews responded to the scene and investigators secured the area. Airport authorities later announced that the facility would remain closed until at least midday Wednesday to allow for recovery efforts and the ongoing investigation. Bangor International Airport is located roughly 200 miles north of Boston and serves as a key transportation hub for northern and eastern Maine, offering direct flights to several major U.S. cities.
Federal investigators said the aircraft crashed immediately after departure and was consumed by a post-crash fire. No further details regarding the sequence of events or potential contributing factors have been released, pending the arrival of investigative teams. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are jointly leading the investigation, which will examine aircraft performance, weather conditions, runway status, and operational procedures at the time of the crash.
Authorities confirmed that information about the victims will be released by local officials, noting that federal agencies do not handle victim identification. Airport Director Jose Saavedra declined to provide additional details during a news conference Monday, stating that he was awaiting guidance from federal partners overseeing the investigation.
Air traffic control audio recorded moments after the crash captured a controller reporting that the aircraft was overturned on the runway area. Emergency responders reached the site in under a minute, according to airport officials, and began immediate rescue and fire suppression efforts.
Weather conditions at the time of the crash were being closely reviewed by investigators. While the region was bracing for a major winter storm, data from the National Weather Service indicated that snowfall in Bangor had only begun to accumulate Sunday evening. Less than a quarter-inch of snow had fallen earlier in the day, with light but steady snowfall reported around the time of the accident. The airport ultimately received nearly 10 inches of snow as the storm intensified overnight.
Officials emphasized that Bangor International Airport regularly operates during winter weather, supported by a longstanding joint-use agreement with the Maine Air National Guard that ensures runways are maintained during snow and ice events. Snow response crews were active at the airport throughout the day and evening.
The jet involved in the crash was registered to a corporation based in Houston, Texas, which shares an address with a prominent personal injury law firm. One of the firm’s founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the aircraft. Authorities have not indicated whether ownership details will play a role in the investigation
