Private Jet Flips During Takeoff on Maine Runway
At least eight people were on board a private passenger plane that crashed at Bangor International Airport in the US state of Maine during a heavy snowstorm, leading to the complete closure of the airport. Details on the condition of the injured have not yet been released.
A private passenger plane flipped over on the takeoff runway at Bangor International Airport in Maine, resulting in the immediate closure of the field overnight, according to reports from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane crashed on Sunday evening, around 19:45, with eight people on board, shortly after takeoff. On the communication network, a controller was heard shouting: "All traffic on the ground has stopped! All traffic on the ground has stopped!" Shortly after, another controller added that it was an "upside-down aircraft. We have an upside-down passenger plane."
Three crew members and five passengers were on the plane, a Bombardier Challenger 650 model. At this stage, no official information has been provided regarding the injury status of the eight.
The plane is registered to a limited liability company operating from Houston, Texas.
The crash occurred in the midst of a significant snowstorm hitting the northeastern United States. Weather conditions in Bangor were described as severe, with temperatures below freezing and very poor visibility due to the snow.
Recordings from the airport's communication network indicate that minutes before the accident, the pilots and controllers discussed visibility conditions and the need for de-icing the aircraft.
Bangor and airport management stated that an emergency operations center has been established and that "first responders are still at the scene and are expected to work actively at the site for several additional hours before more information becomes available."
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation to clarify the circumstances of the accident.