A private jet crashed on takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday night, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The Bombardier Challenger 600 was carrying eight people when it went down around 7:45 p.m. There was no immediate word on the conditions of those aboard.
The crash occurred as a major winter storm swept across New England and the eastern United States, dumping snow, sleet and freezing rain across the region.
The crash underscored the dangers that severe winter weather poses to aviation, even as a massive storm disrupted air travel nationwide and triggered investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Winter Storm Conditions
At Bangor International Airport, located about 200 miles north of Boston, steady snowfall accumulated on Sunday and the airport closed following the incident.
The same storm system that grounded the private jet dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of the country, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the Southeast.
About the Aircraft
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet configured to carry 9 to 11 passengers. The aircraft was launched in 1980 as the first private jet with a walk-about cabin, according to aircharterservice.com. It has remained a popular choice among aviation charter companies.
Nationwide Flight Disruptions
The winter storm caused significant disruptions to commercial air traffic nationwide. According to flight tracker FlightAware, approximately 12,000 flights were canceled on Sunday, with nearly 20,000 additional flights delayed. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey were among the hardest hit by the storm.
Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. Emergency crews responded to the scene at Bangor International Airport following the incident.