Private jet carrying eight crashes on takeoff at Maine’s Bangor airport, FAA says

Private Jet With 8 Aboard Crashes During Takeoff At US Airport Amid Winter Storm

• A Bombardier Challenger 600 jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor Airport, Maine.
• Eight people were onboard; their conditions remain unknown.
• FAA and NTSB have launched an investigation into the crash.

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A private business jet carrying eight people crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday night, US aviation authorities said, as parts of the country battled severe winter weather.

The aircraft, identified as a Bombardier Challenger 600, went down around 7:45 p.m. local time shortly after departure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident in a post on X, noting that the information remains preliminary.

There was no immediate confirmation on the condition of those onboard. CNN, citing a source, reported that the extent of injuries was not yet known.

A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed as it was taking off from Bangor International Airport in Maine around 7:45 p.m local time on Sunday, Jan. 25. Eight people were on board. The FAA and NTSB will investigate.

This information is preliminary and subject to change. — The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 26, 2026

Following the crash, Bangor International Airport was temporarily closed, with emergency crews rushing to the scene. The airport later urged the public to avoid the area, saying the runway remained shut due to the incident involving a single departing aircraft.

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicated that the jet, a Bombardier Challenger 650 business aircraft, had earlier arrived in Bangor from Houston, Texas, and was attempting to take off when the crash occurred. Federal records show the aircraft was registered to a limited liability company based in Houston.

Eyewitnesses and passengers at the airport described dramatic scenes, with videos shared online showing smoke rising from the wreckage. One passenger who had just landed in Bangor posted on social media that they witnessed the aircraft crash shortly after their arrival and urged people to pray for those onboard.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The incident occurred amid a major winter storm affecting large parts of the United States. Maine was experiencing below-freezing temperatures, snowfall and low visibility at the time. Across the country, the storm disrupted air travel, with thousands of flights cancelled or delayed, according to flight tracking data.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-body business jet typically configured to carry between nine and eleven passengers. Introduced in 1980, it remains a popular option for charter and corporate travel.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and more details will be released as they become available.