7 Killed As Private Jet Crashes At Takeoff In Maine

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

PORTLAND, USA (Worthy News) – Seven people died and a crew member survived with serious injuries when a private plane crashed while taking off at Bangor International Airport in the U.S. state of Maine, as steady snowfall from a massive winter storm swept across the region, aviation officials said Monday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the death toll just hours after the Bombardier Challenger 600 carrying eight people crashed late Sunday around 7:45 p.m. local time.

The jet was reportedly registered to a corporation that shares the same Houston, Texas, address as the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers. One of the law firm’s founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the plane.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced in statements that they have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Preliminary findings showed the plane crashed upon departure and experienced a post-crash fire, the NTSB said, adding that no further statements would be issued until after investigators arrive within two days.

AIRPORT CLOSED AFTER CRASH

Bangor International Airport, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Boston, shut down after the disaster.

Sunday’s incident occurred as New England, including Maine, and large parts of the United States grappled with severe winter weather that disrupted travel and knocked out power in multiple states.

Bangor experienced steady snowfall Sunday evening, officials said, as storm conditions worsened across much of the eastern half of the country.

Bangor International Airport said emergency crews were on the scene and the airport was closed following what it described as an incident involving a single departing aircraft.

Bangor is a regional hub in northern New England, serving as one of Maine’s key airports and an important gateway for travelers in the northeastern United States.

VAST STORM DUMPING SNOW

The airport is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Boston and offers direct flights to cities including Orlando, Florida; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Throughout the weekend, the vast storm dumped sleet, freezing rain, and snow across much of the eastern United States, halting air and road traffic and knocking out electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, particularly in the Southeast.

Commercial air travel was also heavily disrupted nationwide. Flight tracking service FlightAware reported that some 12,000 flights were canceled Sunday and nearly 20,000 were delayed.

Airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey were among those most affected.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet typically configured for nine to 11 passengers. Introduced in 1980, it was among the first private jets designed with a “walk-about cabin” and remains a popular charter aircraft, according to aviation industry sources.

Authorities said more details were expected as investigators worked to determine what caused the crash amid challenging winter conditions.

Latest Worthy News