A private business jet carrying eight people flipped upside down and erupted in flames during a snowstorm takeoff attempt at Maine's Bangor International Airport, according to federal aviation authorities and chilling air traffic control recordings obtained by investigators.
Dramatic Audio Captures Moment of Crisis
An audio recording from air traffic controllers contains the harrowing moment when a controller states, "Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down," approximately forty-five seconds after the aircraft was cleared for departure. The Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed on the airfield around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday evening during a period of steady snowfall.
Federal Investigation Launched
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated a full investigation into the catastrophic incident. Preliminary information from the NTSB confirms the aircraft crashed during its departure phase and was subsequently involved in a post-crash fire. The safety board indicated it would withhold further detailed statements until its investigators arrive at the scene within the next day or two.
There was no immediate update on the medical conditions of the eight individuals reported to be aboard the flight at the time of the accident.
Airport Closure and Wider Storm Disruption
Bangor International Airport, a key regional hub located roughly 200 miles north of Boston offering direct flights to destinations like Orlando, Washington D.C., and Charlotte, was closed shortly after the crash and remained shut throughout Monday.
The accident occurred as a massive winter storm gripped New England and vast swathes of the eastern United States. The system brought a treacherous mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow across the region over the weekend, severely disrupting transport networks.
National Travel Chaos
The severe weather caused widespread travel chaos nationwide:
- Commercial air traffic faced massive disruptions, with approximately 12,000 flights cancelled and nearly 20,000 delayed on Sunday alone, according to data from flight tracking service FlightAware.
- Major airports including those serving Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, areas of North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey were significantly impacted.
- Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the Southeast suffered power outages due to the storm conditions.
About the Aircraft Involved
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet typically configured to carry between nine and eleven passengers. First launched in 1980, it was notable as the first private jet to feature a "walk-about cabin" and remains a popular choice for charter services within the aviation industry.
The investigation will now focus on determining the precise sequence of events that led to the aircraft flipping over during its takeoff roll in challenging winter weather conditions.
