Federal officials confirmed that seven people were killed and one crew member was critically injured after a private business jet crashed and burst into flames while taking off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening.
The crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. during harsh winter weather as a widespread storm brought snow, frigid temperatures, and low visibility to the region. The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600 — also identified as a Challenger 650 in updated records — had arrived earlier that evening from Houston and attempted to depart less than two hours later. Air traffic control recordings indicated the jet flipped upside down on the runway before igniting, prompting an immediate airport shutdown. Weather conditions at the time of the crash were severe, with temperatures near 2 degrees and wind chills plunging below zero, accompanied by light snow and gusty winds. Bangor was under a winter storm warning when the incident occurred. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft “crashed under unknown circumstances on departure, came to rest inverted and caught fire.”
Emergency crews from the National Guard, Bangor Fire Department, and multiple surrounding communities rushed to the scene, reaching the wreckage in under a minute, officials said. Despite rapid response efforts, seven passengers were pronounced dead, while one member of the flight crew survived with serious injuries. Authorities have not released the identities of those involved.
The jet was registered under tail number N10KJ. Federal records link the aircraft to a Houston-based company that shares an address with the law firm Arnold & Itkin, though it has not been independently confirmed whether the firm owned the aircraft or if any of its employees were on board.
Bangor International Airport remains closed as investigators work to secure the scene and examine the wreckage. Airport director Jose Saavedra said operations are expected to remain suspended until at least Wednesday, stressing that officials are limiting public statements to avoid interfering with the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with support from the FAA. In a statement, the NTSB said its team would document the scene, inspect the aircraft, and move the wreckage to a secure facility for further analysis. The agency emphasized that it does not speculate on causes during the early stages of an investigation and asked witnesses to submit any relevant information or video evidence. Officials said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a full investigation could take months.
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