Bangor Crash Update: 7 Dead, 1 Seriously Injured at Maine Airport, FAA Says
Seven people were killed and one crew member was seriously injured when a private business jet crashed during a snowstorm while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport in Maine, federal officials said.
The Bombardier Challenger 600, carrying eight people, crashed shortly after 7:45 p.m. Sunday as New England and much of the country were being hit by a major winter storm, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airport, located about 200 miles north of Boston, was closed following the crash.
Plane Registered to Texas Law Firm Crashes in Maine: What We Know
The jet was registered to a corporation that shares a Houston address with the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers. One of the firm's founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the aircraft, according to public records.
The NTSB said it does not release information about victims, noting that responsibility lies with local authorities. However, airport director Jose Saavedra declined to provide details about the victims during a news conference Monday, saying he was "awaiting guidance and support from federal partners."
What Caused the Crash?
An audio recording of air traffic control communications captured a controller reporting, "Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down," about 45 seconds after the plane had been cleared for takeoff. First responders arrived at the crash site less than a minute later, Saavedra said.
Bangor International Airport, which offers direct flights to cities including Orlando, Florida; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, North Carolina, was closed shortly after the crash. Saavedra said the airport will remain closed until at least noon Wednesday.
The crash occurred amid heavy snowfall. Saavedra said the airport had been experiencing steady snow throughout the day Sunday, though aircraft were landing and departing around the time of the crash.
The National Weather Service office in Caribou, Maine, said Bangor ultimately received nearly 10 inches of snow, though snowfall was just beginning when the jet went down.
"We have crews on site that respond to weather storms on a regular basis," Saavedra said. "This is normal for us to respond to weather events."
The storm system brought snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of the eastern United States over the weekend, disrupting travel and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, particularly in the Southeast.
Commercial air travel was severely affected nationwide. About 12,000 flights were canceled Sunday and nearly 20,000 were delayed, according to FlightAware. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey were among those reporting significant disruptions.
What is a Bombardier Challenger 600?
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-body business jet typically configured to carry nine to 11 passengers. Introduced in 1980, it was the first private jet to feature a stand-up, "walk-about" cabin and remains a popular aircraft for charter operations, according to Air Charter Service.
Updates: 1/26/25, 11:33 a.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 8:24 AM.