Seven people were killed and another person was seriously injured after a private plane crashed at an airport in Maine.
Private Jet Crashes During Take-Off in Bangor
The incident occurred around 7:45p local time on Sunday at Bangor International Airport (BGR) when a Bombardier Challenger 650 was departing. The aircraft was taking off when the aircraft rolled and landed upside down. After the crash, a fire engulfed the jet. The airport, which is located roughly 200 miles north of Boston, was immediately closed after the accident and remains closed at this time.
Six passengers and crew were on board the flight, all of whom were killed in the accident. Preliminary reports indicated that there were weight onboard, with seven fatalities and one injury. Snow was falling at the airport at the time of the accident but flights were operating as scheduled.
According to ATC audio, the plane was in the de-icing area from 7:17p to 7:36p. From there it taxied to the departure runway where it commenced takeoff at 7:44p
The plane, registration N10KJ, is owned by KTKJ CHALLENGER LLC and registered to the same address as Arnold & Itkin LLP, a Houston, Texas based law firm. The flight had arrived in Bangor for a refueling stop from Houston’s Hobby Airport (HOU) and was expected to continue on to Paris. It is unclear at this time who was aboard the aircraft.
Bangor is a popular refueling spot for private jets traveling between the United States and Europe. The airport has one of the longest runways on the east coast, measuring 11,440 feet. At one point, NASA designated Bangor as an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle.
Summary
A private jet registered to a Houston based law firm crashed on take-off in Bangor, Maine. The Bombardier Challenger 600 had six passengers and crew on board, all of whom passed away as a result of the accident.