PORTLAND, Maine — Six people were killed when a business jet crashed and burst into flames during takeoff at Bangor International Airport on Sunday night as a winter snowstorm moved into the region, authorities said.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 overturned and caught fire around 7:45 p.m. shortly after being cleared for takeoff, according to airport officials. Visibility was deteriorating at the time as heavy snow began to fall across central Maine.
An audio recording from air traffic control, posted by LiveATC.net, captured a controller reporting, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,” approximately 45 seconds after the plane was cleared for departure. First responders arrived at the crash site within a minute, said airport director Jose Saavedra.
The airport confirmed Monday that six people were aboard the aircraft, based on the flight manifest, and all were killed. Earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration had reported seven fatalities and one injury but later clarified that the information was preliminary and subject to confirmation by local authorities.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash. Aviation experts say weather conditions and the possibility of ice accumulation on the aircraft’s wings will be key areas of focus. Similar issues have been cited in at least two previous incidents involving the same aircraft model.
“Given the weather conditions, icing will be examined very closely,” said John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems. “You can count on the fact that the NTSB will look at all possible factors.”
The airport temporarily suspended operations following the crash. Further details about the victims and the cause of the accident have not yet been released.
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