Authorities report that a Bombardier Challenger 600 private jet carrying eight passengers suffered a crash while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening. The accident was registered at approximately 7:45 p.m. Eastern time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Immediate information regarding the condition of those aboard has not been provided.
Investigations into the crash are currently underway by the FAA alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as officials seek to determine the cause of the accident involving a single aircraft departing the airport.
The incident coincided with the arrival of a formidable winter storm impacting New England and much of the United States. Bangor, like many other areas across the country, experienced ongoing snowfall throughout Sunday, affecting transportation facilities and operations.
Following the crash, emergency response teams promptly arrived at the scene, while the airport remained closed to flights as the situation was assessed. Bangor International Airport, situated roughly 200 miles north of Boston, functions as a regional hub with direct connections to multiple cities, including Orlando, Florida; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
The weekend's storm system generated severe winter weather conditions such as sleet, freezing rain, and snowfall across vast portions of the eastern United States. These adverse meteorological circumstances contributed to widespread disruption in road and air travel and resulted in power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of households and commercial establishments, particularly in the southeastern region of the country.
Commercial aviation experienced significant disturbances as well. Data from the flight tracking website FlightAware indicates that on Sunday, around 12,000 flights across the United States were canceled, with approximately 20,000 flights experiencing delays. Major airports affected by the severe weather include those serving Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, locations in North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey.
The Bombardier Challenger 600, involved in the accident, is a wide-bodied business jet typically configured to accommodate between nine and eleven passengers. Unveiled in 1980, it was the pioneering private jet to feature a "walk-about cabin," offering enhanced passenger mobility inside the aircraft. It remains a favored choice in the charter flight industry.