A private business jet carrying eight people crashed on takeoff at Bangor International Airport on Sunday night, killing seven and leaving one survivor with serious injuries as snow and wind swept across the airfield, according to federal authorities and local officials.
The fatal crash shut the airport and triggered parallel investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Officials said the aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600, overturned and caught fire shortly after departing the runway around 7:45 p.m. The FAA reported that seven people died and one person survived with serious injuries. Bangor officials initially released a lower death toll during the overnight response but later deferred to federal counts as recovery and verification progressed. The airport remained closed Monday as crews documented wreckage, preserved flight data components and cleared debris from the movement areas.
Emergency crews were dispatched within minutes of the mayday as tower personnel lost visual contact with the jet during its takeoff roll, responders said. Firefighters reached the overturned fuselage on the airfield and battled flames in heavy snow while medics worked to reach survivors. The lone survivor, described by officials as a crew member, was transported in critical condition. Authorities did not immediately release the names of the dead, pending notification of families. Airport leaders said the crash occurred during an active winter system that brought accumulating snow and poor visibility across central Maine on Sunday evening.
Federal officials confirmed the aircraft type and the number aboard and said investigators will review pilot qualifications, maintenance records, fueling and deicing logs, and any available cockpit voice and flight data recordings. The NTSB also planned to map the debris field, examine the landing gear and control surfaces and interview controllers on duty. Local outlets reported that the airplane was registered in Texas; officials said the destination and planned route would be part of the fact-gathering process. No injuries were reported on the ground, and the fire was contained to the wreckage area on airport property.
Airport operations staff closed the field after the crash and coordinated with airlines and cargo operators to divert or cancel flights. Regional carriers warned of delays as crews redirected aircraft to Portland and other airports. Bangor’s main runway was expected to remain out of service until investigators finished documenting the site and heavy equipment could remove the wreckage. City officials said they would issue updates on airfield status as the federal team progressed through on-scene work and the airport completed safety inspections of runway surfaces, lighting and navigation aids.
Bangor International is a joint-use civil and military airport that serves as a diversion field for transatlantic flights and a cargo and passenger hub for northern New England. Winter weather commonly disrupts operations, but fatal airfield accidents are rare. Sunday’s crash is among the deadliest in Maine in recent years and comes months after an unrelated fatal general aviation crash near the city last summer. The Challenger 600 series, introduced in the early 1980s, typically seats nine to eleven passengers and is widely used for corporate and charter flights. Investigators often scrutinize deicing practices, thrust settings and rotation speeds when business jets attempt departures in wintry conditions.
Officials said the identification of the victims would follow standard procedures at the state medical examiner’s office, including autopsies and toxicology testing where appropriate. The NTSB said it would release a preliminary report within about two weeks summarizing factual information gathered on scene and from records, followed by a more detailed analysis in the months ahead. The FAA will assist with airworthiness and operations records while the airport compiles radio logs, snow-removal schedules and emergency response timelines for investigators.
Witnesses described plows and firefighting rigs racing across the snow-covered infield as sirens echoed along Godfrey Boulevard. A traveler waiting at the terminal said announcements advised passengers that the airport was closing and directed them to contact airlines for rebooking. Crews erected temporary lighting around the wreckage as light snow continued into the night. By Monday morning, access roads near the air operations area were restricted while investigators photographed the site and marked impact points along the runway environment.
As of Monday evening, the airport remained closed while federal and local teams processed the scene. The next milestones include public identification of the victims by state authorities and the NTSB’s preliminary report, expected in the coming days. Flight operations will resume after the airfield passes inspections and the wreckage is removed, airport officials said.
Author note: Last updated January 26, 2026.