Tragic Private Jet Crash in Maine Amid Severe Winter Storm

BANGOR, Maine — A private jet carrying eight people crashed on takeoff Sunday evening at Bangor International Airport as a powerful winter storm swept across much of the United States, officials say. 

The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600, went down around 7:45 p.m. local time during deteriorating weather conditions linked to the storm affecting the Northeast. The jet reportedly flipped, caught fire, and ended up inverted after leaving the runway. 

Federal aviation authorities have confirmed that seven people were killed, and one crew member survived with serious injuries. Emergency crews remained on the scene through the night as investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began their examination of the wreckage. 

Initial confusion over the number of passengers was clarified as officials reviewed the flight manifest; all aboard were initially believed to be eight, but some reports indicate discrepancies in early counts. 

The jet had arrived earlier from Texas and was preparing for a flight abroad when the crash occurred. Although heavy snow was falling in the area at the time, investigators have not yet determined whether weather directly contributed to the accident. 

Bangor International Airport was temporarily closed following the incident, with several flights canceled or delayed as the region grapples with hazardous conditions brought by the storm. Authorities have not released the identities of those killed as families are being notified. 

The ongoing investigation by the FAA and NTSB could take months to determine the exact cause of the crash.