A private jet carrying eight people crashed and erupted into flames while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, U.S. aviation officials said. The condition and identities of those on board were not immediately known.
The aircraft, a twin-engine Bombardier Challenger 600, went down at around 7:45 p.m., according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency said it will investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
A government official briefed on the matter told Reuters that the crash was followed by a significant fire. Emergency crews responded swiftly, but authorities released few additional details in the immediate aftermath.
Weather reports showed light snow had begun falling at the airport prior to the crash, and a winter storm warning was in effect across much of Maine, including Bangor, the state’s third-largest city. Officials, however, did not indicate whether weather conditions contributed to the accident.
The jet had arrived in Maine from Texas earlier in the day, the official said. FAA records show the aircraft entered service in April 2020. The company listed as the registered owner shares a Houston address with Arnold & Itkin, a personal injury law firm.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
