Seven individuals lost their lives, and one crew member sustained severe injuries following a tragic incident where a private jet crashed at Bangor International Airport during a severe snowstorm in the United States. The US Federal Aviation Administration reported that the Bombardier Challenger 600, carrying eight occupants, crashed during take-off from the Maine airport at around 7:45 pm on Sunday night amidst the harsh winter weather conditions.
The airport, located approximately 200 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts, was closed after the accident. While heavy snowfall was prevalent in various parts of the country, accumulation had just begun in Bangor, with other aircraft safely taking off before the tragic event occurred.
The jet, owned by a corporation sharing an address in Houston, Texas, with the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers, is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Preliminary information from the NTSB indicates that the plane crashed during departure and subsequently caught fire, but further details will be provided once investigators arrive at the scene.
Airport director Jose Saavedra refrained from commenting during a recent press conference, citing the need for guidance and support from federal partners. Responders swiftly arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, with the airport remaining closed until at least noon on Wednesday.
The tragic crash occurred amidst a significant winter storm affecting New England and other parts of the country, with Bangor experiencing consistent snowfall on the fateful day. The National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, reported nearly 10 inches of snow at the airport, highlighting the challenges posed by severe weather conditions.
Bangor International Airport, being the largest city in Maine’s northern and eastern regions, has a robust infrastructure that can withstand adverse weather conditions, as emphasized by its joint use agreement with the Maine Air National Guard. Despite the disruption in commercial air traffic across the US due to the storm, the airport’s operations are geared to handle challenging weather scenarios, reassuring travelers with the motto: “A Little Snow Doesn’t Scare Us.”
