Private jet with 8 aboard crashes on takeoff in Maine, FAA says

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press, via WTOP

Private jet with 8 aboard crashes on takeoff in Maine, FAA says

The Associated Press
January 26, 2026, 2:59 AM


This image taken from video provided by WABI television, emergency cervices work on a scene of the Bombardier Challenger 600 crash at the Bangor Airport in Maine, late Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WABI via AP

BANGOR, Maine (AP) -- A private aircraft carrying eight people crashed on takeoff Sunday night at Maine's Bangor International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed around 7:45 p.m., and there was no immediate word on the conditions of those aboard. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

The crash occurred as New England and much of the country grappled with a massive winter storm. Bangor had undergone steady snowfall Sunday along with many other parts of the country. ... The airport issued a statement that emergency crews were on the scene at the airport, which was closed after what it described as an incident involving a single aircraft departing the airport.

Bangor International Airport offers direct flights to cities like Orlando, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina, and is located about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Boston.

{snip}

Read more: https://wtop.com/national/2026/01/private-jet-with-8-aboard-crashes-on-takeoff-in-maine-faa-says/

---

Hat tip, Good Morning America

[CincyDem]

1. Absence of a destination is interesting.

Feels like journalism 101 would report “…destined for [XYZ]”. Instead this quickly turns into a weather report, and airport promo, and a geography lesson.

Report filed 7 hours after the flight with no destination.

Wonder if any advance teams are flying private in/out of Maine these days?

[bluedigger]

4. Another report said the plane was owned/operated by a Houston law firm.

Presumably, it was returning to Houston.

[bdamomma]

15. I do not

want to assume but doesn't George Bush live in Maine?????

[bluedigger]

17. He resides in a Houston hotel room to avoid Maine state taxes, last I heard.

However, Kennebunkport is much closer to Portland. He wouldn't fly out of Bangor.

[bdamomma]

18. thanks

for filling me in.

[SergeStorms]

11. Airports are forbidden....

from giving out flight plan's, passenger manifests etc. in the event of a crash.

I learned this watching a documentary about JFK Jr's. plane crash in the ocean with his wife and sister-in-law aboard. Members of the Press hounded the airport for information, but they would neither deny or confirm that it was Kennedy Jr. That information is confirmed by the common carrier or the FAA, or in this case law enforcement.

[CincyDem]

14. Interesting.

I would have thought the flight tracker apps would have that info. The few times I’ve flown private, I’ve been able to track the flight with all the info.

Flightradar24 has a lot of info on it.

I do not however know what happens to that feen in the even of a crash.

[SergeStorms]

16. Online public information vs......

what information airport employees can divulge to the public, I guess. In a crash situation airline employees are supposed to be tight-lipped, but we all know how money talks.

[EX500rider]

2. My preliminary guess will be ice build up on the wings not correctly cleared

[SergeStorms]

12. Bingo.

Depending on how long they had to wait from the time they de-iced until takeoff, it probably should have been done again. De-icing should be done every 20-30 minutes if they're sitting on the tarmac.

[mainer]

3. What a crazy time to take off, with a snowstorm

Commercial flights were cancelled all over New England yesterday, yet this private jet chose to take off? What was the rush? Who were the passengers, and why did the pilot choose to fly on such an evening? There are a lot of questions here.

[LiberalArkie]

9. Executive on board more than likely ordered the pilots to "Take off now, I don't care what you think"

[mainer]

5. I just saw a post on X that the plane was registered to a Houston Company

OMG they have the same address as a personal injury law firm, with experience in litigating ... aviation accidents.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/airports/2026/01/26/541619/plane-crash-maine-houston-law-firm-faa/

[travelingthrulife]

8. Convenient!

[Earth Bound Misfit]

6. Reports are plane was registered to a Houston law firm

The plane's registered address is the Houston office of the personal injury legal firm, Arnold and Itkin, Reuters and CNN reported. The Houston Chronicle is working to confirm details.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/bangor-plane-crash-21315089.php

ETA: Bangor is a popular stop for refueling business jets before heading into the North Atlantic. Looks like final dest was France according to this:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/565865#:~:text=Departure%20airport%3ABangor%20International%20Airport%2C%20ME,down%20and%20was%20destroyed%20byp

[Bengus81]

7. Shows the ridiculous mentality. You have $25-$30M jet but are forced to admit we better

wait until the next morning because of weather conditions. That's not going to happen and now look what happened.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. Federal Aviation Administration says 7 killed, 1 survived jet crash in snow in Bangor, Maine

Federal Aviation Administration says 7 killed, 1 survived jet crash in snow in Bangor, Maine

The Associated Press

January 26, 2026, 11:47 AM

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration says seven people were killed and a crew member survived with serious injuries when a private business jet crashed in a snowstorm at Maine’s Bangor International Airport.

{snip}

[SergeStorms]

13. There's an extremely terrible joke.....

that could be made here. In deference to family and loved ones, I'll l refrain from doing so.