In brief
A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed and caught fire while trying to take off from Bangor International Airport during a winter storm, with eight people on board. The FAA and NTSB have launched an investigation into the incident, which left the airport closed. As a massive storm affected the East Coast, commercial flights saw significant disruptions, with thousands of cancellations and delays recorded across the United States.
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A business jet carrying eight people flipped over and caught fire as it attempted to take off during a snowstorm from Bangor International Airport, according to federal authorities and air traffic control recordings.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed on the airfield around 7:45 p.m. Sunday, and there has been no immediate information regarding the conditions of those aboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.
The NTSB indicated that preliminary details suggest the plane encountered difficulties after takeoff, resulting in a post-crash fire. Additional updates are expected once the investigators reach the site.
Audio recordings from air traffic controllers captured the moment with reports of an 'aircraft upside down' shortly after takeoff clearance was granted.
Bangor International Airport typically facilitates direct flights to locations like Orlando, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina. The airport was promptly closed after the incident and remained shut on Monday.
The tragic event unfolded as New England and much of the country were grappling with a significant winter storm. Bangor, in particular, experienced steady snowfall throughout Sunday.
As the storm impacted much of eastern United States, commercial airplay faced severe disruption, leading to over 12,000 flight cancellations and nearly 20,000 delays on Sunday alone.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 jet, which launched in 1980, is known as the first private jet to offer a 'walk-about cabin' and remains a popular choice among charter services.
