A private jet carrying eight people crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport in Maine, US, aviation authorities reported. The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down around 19:45 local time (00:45 GMT Monday). The identities and fate of those on board are not yet known.
The crash occurred during a dangerous winter storm sweeping across much of the US, which has already claimed several lives and left hundreds of thousands without power. Pilots reportedly struggled with poor visibility at the airport before the incident.
Bangor remains under a winter storm warning until Tuesday, with heavy snowfall expected. Bangor International Airport closed after the crash, and emergency teams responded, urging the public to stay away.
Air traffic control audio captured by CBS News and published by LiveATC.net recorded controllers and pilots discussing low visibility minutes before the crash. Shortly after, a controller reported seeing “a passenger aircraft upside down.” Photos from the scene showed smoke and flames on the runway.
The storm has caused widespread travel disruption, with over 11,000 flights canceled and nearly 5,500 delayed across the US on Sunday. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey were among those affected. Maine is expected to receive 10 to 16 inches (25–40 cm) of snow in some areas, including Bangor, by Tuesday morning.
