Tragic Crash of Private Jet in Maine During Winter Storm

Mon Feb 02 2026 13:37:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A private jet carrying eight individuals crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport amid severe weather conditions, prompting emergency responses and raising concerns for those on board.

A Bombardier Challenger 600 private jet crashed at Bangor International Airport in Maine, carrying eight people. The incident occurred on the evening of January 26, 2026, during a hazardous winter storm that has already caused considerable disruption across the United States. Authorities have closed the airport and dispatched emergency crews to the scene as they investigate the cause and status of the passengers.

A private jet carrying eight people has crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport in the US state of Maine, aviation authorities have reported.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down at around 19:45 local time (00:45 GMT on Monday). However, details regarding the fate and identities of those on board remain unclear.

This tragic event coincides with a dangerous winter storm sweeping across a vast area of the US, which has resulted in multiple fatalities and left hundreds of thousands without power. Pilots were reportedly experiencing difficulties with visibility at the airport prior to the crash.

Bangor is currently under a winter storm warning, with significant snowfall expected to continue until Tuesday.

Following the incident, Bangor International Airport announced its closure, urging the public to stay away as emergency crews respond to the scene. Audio recordings from air traffic control captured exchanges between controllers and pilots minutes before the crash regarding visibility issues, although it is uncertain which aircraft were involved in the communications. Shortly thereafter, a controller remarked that there was a passenger aircraft upside down. Images from the scene depicted smoke and flames on the runway.

The disruption caused by the crash is exacerbated by widespread travel chaos linked to the storm, with over 11,000 flight cancellations and nearly 5,500 delays reported across the US on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Major airports in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey have all been affected.

Forecasts predict an accumulation of between 10 and 16 inches (25-40cm) of snow in parts of Maine, including Bangor, by Tuesday morning, as stated by the National Weather Service.

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