Tragic Crash of Private Jet in Maine Claims Eight Lives

Sun Feb 01 2026 10:51:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport amidst severe winter storm conditions, leading to an urgent response from emergency crews.

A private jet carrying eight passengers crashed during takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine, just as a dangerous winter storm hit the region. The Federal Aviation Administration reported poor visibility conditions at the airport at the time of the disaster. Emergency crews responded to the incident, while snow accumulation from the storm is expected to exacerbate ongoing travel disruptions across the U.S.

A private jet carrying eight people has crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport in the US state of Maine, aviation authorities have said.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down at around 19:45 local time (00:45 GMT on Monday), the Federal Aviation Administration stated, but the fate and identities of those on board remain unclear.

The incident occurred as a dangerous winter storm swept across much of the US, causing fatalities and widespread power outages. Pilots were reportedly struggling with visibility challenges at the airport before the crash.

Bangor is currently under a winter storm warning until Tuesday, with forecasts indicating heavy snowfall.

In response to the crash, Bangor International Airport has closed and emergency services have been dispatched, urging the public to steer clear of the area.

Audio from air traffic control has revealed discussions regarding poor visibility just minutes before the crash, although it remains ambiguous which aircraft were involved. Shortly after the incident, a controller reported an upside down passenger aircraft. Images from the site showed smoke and flames on the runway.

This incident adds to the travel chaos induced by the storm, with over 11,000 flights canceled and nearly 5,500 delayed across the country on Sunday, as per FlightAware. Major airports in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey were among those impacted.

The National Weather Service forecasts between 10 and 16 inches (25-40 cm) of snow to accumulate in parts of Maine, including Bangor, by Tuesday morning.