Six people died when a business jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday night as a severe snowstorm reduced visibility, officials confirmed.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed at approximately 7:45pm local time as the region grappled with a major winter storm. The airport, located about 200 miles north of Boston, was shut down immediately after the incident.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to focus on whether ice accumulation on the wings played a role in the crash, a known issue with this aircraft model. The Challenger 600 has a history of icing problems, including fatal crashes in Birmingham, England, and Montrose, Colorado, over 20 years ago.
The jet was registered to a company sharing an address in Houston, Texas, with the law firm Arnold & Itkin Trial Lawyers. A founding partner of the firm is listed as the registered agent for the corporate owner.
An audio recording captured an air traffic controller saying, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,” about 45 seconds after the plane was cleared for takeoff. First responders arrived within a minute, according to airport director Jose Saavedra.
The airport is expected to remain closed until at least noon on Wednesday. The National Weather Service reported nearly 10 inches of snow at the airport by the time of the crash, with light but steady snowfall ongoing.
