Winter Storm in US: Private Jet With Eight Onboard Crashes During Takeoff at Maine Airport

A private jet carrying eight people crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in the US state of Maine on Sunday night, amid severe winter storm conditions that have disrupted travel across large parts of the country. Federal aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft — a Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet — went down around 7:45 pm local time shortly after beginning its departure from the airport. The jet is typically configured to carry between nine and 11 passengers.

No immediate clarity on casualties

Officials have not yet confirmed whether there were injuries or fatalities among those onboard. Emergency crews rushed to the scene immediately after the crash, and the airport was temporarily shut down as a precaution.

Airport spokesperson Aimee Thibodeau said authorities were responding to an incident involving a single departing aircraft, but added that no further details could be shared at this stage. Residents in the surrounding area were advised to stay clear of the airport while emergency operations were underway.

Crash amid major winter storm

The incident occurred as a powerful winter storm swept across New England and several eastern US states, bringing heavy snowfall, freezing rain and dangerously low temperatures. Bangor was experiencing steady snowfall at the time of the crash, officials confirmed.

The storm has severely affected air travel nationwide. According to flight-tracking platform FlightAware, nearly 12,000 flights were cancelled and around 20,000 delayed across the United States on Sunday alone. Major airports in cities including New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and parts of North Carolina were among the worst hit.

Federal probe underway

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have jointly launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators will examine whether weather conditions, mechanical failure, runway conditions or other factors contributed to the accident.

Bangor International Airport, located roughly 200 miles north of Boston, serves both domestic and international routes and is often used as a diversion airport during weather-related disruptions. Airport operations were gradually reviewed following the emergency response.

Wider impact of the storm

The winter storm has caused widespread disruption beyond aviation, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and prompting emergency declarations in several states. US President Donald Trump approved federal emergency measures as authorities warned residents to limit travel and prepare for prolonged cold conditions.

As investigators work to piece together what led to the Maine crash, aviation officials continue to urge caution, especially with extreme winter weather expected to persist across parts of the country in the coming days.