Private Jet Crash in Maine
X/ @aviationbrk

A private jet carrying eight people crashed and burst into flames during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, triggering a massive emergency response and shutting down the facility as a winter storm battered the region.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the Bombardier Challenger 600 went down around 7:45 p.m. local time on 25 January. Emergency crews from multiple fire departments rushed to the scene, where witnesses reported seeing the aircraft upside down on the runway with smoke billowing into the night sky.

Air traffic control audio captured the chaotic moments after impact. 'Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,' a voice can be heard saying in recordings reviewed by local media, according to WMTW.

Fate Of Eight Occupants Remains Unknown

Authorities have not released information about injuries or the identities of those aboard. The FAA referred questions about the passengers to local authorities, who said first responders were expected to work the site for several hours.

Bangor Police Sergeant Jeremy Brock told NBC affiliate WCSH that officers responded after reports of an aircraft 'that had gone off the runway during departure.' He declined to comment on the extent of any injuries.

Residents across the Greater Bangor area reported hearing a loud boom around the time of the crash. Doorbell camera footage from a home in nearby Glenburn captured the sound echoing through the night.

Jet Linked To Houston Law Firm

Flight tracking data shows the twin-engine business jet arrived in Bangor from Houston earlier that evening and attempted to depart less than two hours later. The aircraft, registered as N10KJ, is listed under KTKJ Challenger LLC, which shares an address with Arnold & Itkin, a prominent Houston-based personal injury law firm, according to FOX 26 Houston.

FAA records indicate the Bombardier Challenger 600 entered service in April 2020. It remains unclear whether any staff from the law firm were among the eight people on board, which reportedly included six passengers and two crew members.

Arnold & Itkin has not publicly commented on the incident. The firm's founding partners, Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin, are major donors to the University of Texas athletics programme and have won more than $20 billion (£16.2 billion) in verdicts and settlements.

Winter Storm Complicated Response

The crash occurred as a major winter storm pummelled the Northeast. Temperatures in Bangor hovered around 2 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius) with a wind chill of minus 13 and light snow falling at the time of the incident, as reported by NBC News.

'Certainly, the weather is challenging,' Sergeant Brock acknowledged. 'I'm sure it will continue to be a challenge throughout the night and into the day tomorrow.'

Visibility at the airport was approximately three-quarters of a mile when the aircraft went down. A winter storm warning covering Bangor and much of Maine remained in effect until early Monday.

Airport Shut Down Amid Investigation

Bangor International Airport closed its runway at 8:25 p.m. and fully shut down operations by 10:30 p.m. The Bangor Fire Department led the emergency response, with backup from Glenburn and Hermon fire departments.

'An incident at the airport is under investigation. First responders are on scene and assessing the situation,' the airport said in a Facebook post. Officials urged passengers to contact their airlines about travel disruptions, WGME reported.

A Breeze Airways flight to Orlando scheduled for 8:30 p.m. was cancelled following the incident. Maine State Police are assisting Bangor police with the ongoing investigation.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will jointly investigate the cause of the crash. A preliminary accident report is expected to be released on Monday.

Bangor International Airport serves as a joint civil-military facility located approximately 129 miles (208 kilometres) northeast of Portland. The airport operates a single runway and offers direct flights to cities including Orlando, Washington D.C., and Charlotte.