A private jet carrying eight people has crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport in the US state of Maine, aviation authorities have said.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down at around 19:45 local time (00:45 GMT on Monday), the Federal Aviation Administration stated, though the fate and identities of those onboard were not immediately available.
The incident occurred as a dangerous winter storm swept across a large area of the U.S., leading to several fatalities and widespread power outages. Reports indicate that pilots faced significant visibility challenges at the airport before the crash.
Bangor remains under a winter storm warning, with heavy snowfall anticipated through Tuesday.
Following the incident, Bangor International Airport announced its closure, and emergency crews were dispatched to the scene, urging the public to steer clear of the area.
Audio captured from air traffic control, reported by CBS News and published by LiveATC.net, reflected discussions between controllers and pilots regarding the severe visibility conditions shortly before the crash, although which aircraft were involved remains unclear.
Minutes later, a controller reported, there was a passenger aircraft upside down. Images from the crash scene depicted flames and smoke rising from the runway.
The incident contributed to travel disruptions across the country, with over 11,000 flights canceled and nearly 5,500 delayed on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Major airports in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey were among those impacted.
The National Weather Service has warned of 10 to 16 inches (25-40 cm) of snow accumulation in parts of Maine, including Bangor, expected by Tuesday morning.
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