7 dead, 1 critical after private jet crashes during winter storm at US airport

The US Federal Aviation Administration said seven people were killed, and one crew member was critically injured when a private business jet crashed during a snowstorm at Bangor International Airport in Maine.

The Bombardier Challenger 600, carrying eight people, went down during takeoff around 7:45 pm on Sunday as a powerful winter storm battered New England and large parts of the United States. The airport, located about 200 miles north of Boston, was shut down following the crash amid heavy snowfall.

Records show the jet was registered to a corporation sharing a Houston, Texas address with the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers. One of the firm’s founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the aircraft.

The FAA and the National



Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the crash. The NTSB said preliminary information indicates the aircraft crashed shortly after departure and caught fire, adding that further details would be released after investigators reach the site in the coming days.

An audio recording of air traffic controllers captured a voice saying, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,” about 45 seconds after the plane was cleared for takeoff. Saavedra said first responders reached the crash site in less than a minute.

Bangor International Airport, which offers direct flights to cities including Orlando, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, is located about 200 miles north of Boston. The airport was shut shortly after the crash and is expected to remain closed until at least noon on Wednesday.