FAA says 7 killed, 1 survived in private jet crash at Maine airport

The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday said that seven people were killed, leaving one survivor, in a private jet crash at Bangor International Airport in Maine.The FAA said that one member of the crew survived with serious injuries, The Associated Press reported. The airport shut down after the crash and will remain closed at least until Wednesday to let investigators examine and remove the wreckage.
At the time of the crash, snow accumulation had just started in Bangor, and other planes had been taking off safely.
The private jet was registered with a corporation that shares the same address in Houston, Texas, as the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers. One of the law firm’s founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the jet.
The FAA posted on X on Sunday night, “A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed as it was taking off from Bangor International Airport in Maine around 7:45 p.m local time on Sunday, Jan. 25. Eight people were on board. The FAA and NTSB will investigate.”
“The airport is closed and we ask that the public avoid the area. There have been flight cancellations and passengers are encouraged to contact their airlines for information regarding impacts to their travel plans,” the city of Bangor and the Bangor airport said in a statement Sunday.
“First responders are still on the scene and are expected to be actively working the site for several more hours before any additional information is available,” the statement later reads, adding that an update will be emailed by 8 a.m. Monday.
The crash occurred as a massive snowstorm has been making its way through the Northeast, with temperatures well below freezing in Maine, and light snow causing very low visibility.
Minutes before the crash, air traffic controllers and pilots at Bangor airport can be heard talking about low visibility and deicing, according to audio obtained from LiveATC.net.
According to audio, a controller clears the pilot for takeoff on Bangor’s Runway 33. Just moments later, another controller is heard saying, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.”
The airport is then closed, and emergency vehicles drove onto the airfield.
Later, a controller said they are aware of “three crew and possibly five passengers” on board.

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