At least seven individuals lost their lives, while a crew member survived with serious injuries after a private business jet crashed during takeoff amid severe snowstorm conditions at Bangor International Airport in the US state of Maine on Sunday night. The tragic incident involved a Bombardier Challenger 600 aircraft, which was carrying eight people in total.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The aircraft flipped over and caught fire while attempting to depart the airport at approximately 7:45 pm local time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the fatalities and reported that the injured crew member was immediately transported to a hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Weather Conditions and Broader Impact
The crash occurred as massive winter storms swept across extensive regions of the United States, bringing heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain. These adverse weather conditions significantly disrupted both air and road travel nationwide. According to flight tracker FlightAware, nearly 12,000 flights were canceled and about 20,000 were delayed on Sunday alone.
Bangor International Airport, situated roughly 200 miles north of Boston, was shut down shortly after the crash. Airport director Jose Saavedra stated that emergency responders reached the scene within moments of the incident. He referenced air traffic control recordings, noting that an alert was raised soon after takeoff clearance was granted.
Immediate Response and Investigation
An air traffic controller was heard saying, "Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down," about 45 seconds after the plane was cleared for departure, as reported by the Associated Press. Saavedra confirmed that first responders arrived in less than a minute and announced that the airport would remain closed until at least noon on Wednesday.
Addressing the airport's preparedness for such weather events, Saavedra emphasized, "We have crews on site that respond to weather storms on a regular basis. This is normal for us to respond to weather events." However, the severity of this particular incident has prompted a thorough investigation.
Ongoing Investigation by Authorities
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA have launched a joint investigation to determine the precise cause of the crash. Preliminary information indicates that the plane experienced a post-crash fire upon departure. The NTSB has stated that it will not release further details until investigators arrive on-site to conduct a comprehensive analysis.
Aircraft Specifications and Broader Context
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet typically configured to accommodate nine to eleven passengers. Introduced in 1980, it was the first private jet to feature a "walk-about cabin" and continues to be a popular choice for charter flights. This crash adds to the challenges faced by the aviation industry during the winter storm, with airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina among the worst affected by the widespread disruptions.
