Seven individuals lost their lives, while one crew member sustained severe injuries in a tragic incident involving a private jet at Bangor International Airport during a snowstorm in the United States. The US Federal Aviation Administration reported that the Bombardier Challenger 600, carrying eight passengers, crashed during take-off from the Maine airport around 7:45 pm on Sunday amidst severe winter weather conditions across the country.
Following the crash, the airport, located about 200 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts, was closed down. Despite heavy snowfall in various parts of the country, accumulation had only just begun in Bangor, and other flights were departing safely before the tragic event.
The jet is registered to a corporation with the same address as the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers in Houston, Texas. The company owning the plane lists one of the law firm’s founding partners as its registered agent. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting investigations into the crash.
Preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that the plane crashed during departure and subsequently caught fire. The NTSB stated that further details would be provided once investigators arrived at the scene. Airport director Jose Saavedra refrained from commenting and mentioned that he was awaiting guidance from federal partners during a press conference.
First responders arrived promptly after the crash, with the airport remaining closed until at least noon on Wednesday. The tragic incident occurred amid a significant winter storm affecting New England and other parts of the country. Bangor experienced continuous snowfall on the day of the crash.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, the airport received nearly 10 inches of snow. The service emphasized their readiness to respond to weather events regularly. Commercial air traffic was significantly disrupted nationwide, with thousands of flights being canceled or delayed on Sunday.
Bangor Airport, the largest in northern and eastern Maine, boasts a joint use agreement with the Maine Air National Guard ensuring operational readiness regardless of weather conditions. Their motto, “A Little Snow Doesn’t Scare Us,” reflects their commitment to maintaining operations in adverse weather situations.
