A private jet carrying eight people crashed while attempting to depart from Bangor International Airport in Maine, USA, on Sunday night, amid a severe winter storm battering the Northeast. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the Bombardier Challenger 600 aircraft went down during takeoff at approximately 7:45 PM local time.
The crash occurred as Winter Storm Fern brought punishing snowfall and below-freezing temperatures to the region. Preliminary reports from air traffic control audio, reviewed by CNN, suggest challenging conditions at the time of the incident. Controllers and pilots were heard discussing poor visibility and the need for de-icing, though it remains unclear which flights were involved in those exchanges.
In a critical sequence, a controller is heard authorizing a pilot to depart from Runway 33. Less than two minutes later, an urgent transmission followed: “All traffic is stopped on the field! All traffic is stopped on the field!” Soon after, another controller reported the severity of the situation, stating, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.”
The airport was subsequently shut down to all flights as emergency vehicles rushed to the airfield. A later transmission indicated officials were aware of “three crew and possibly five passengers” on board the aircraft. No details on casualties have been officially released.
Bangor International Airport, located roughly 200 miles north of Boston, provides direct flights to major destinations including Orlando, Washington D.C., and Charlotte. The FAA has not released further details on the circumstances of the crash, which remains under investigation.
The incident highlights the dangers of aviation during extreme winter weather, raising questions about operational protocols during severe storms. Authorities are expected to provide updates as the investigation progresses.
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