PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A tragic incident occurred as a business jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport, claiming six lives amidst a snowstorm on Sunday evening.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 aircraft overturned and caught fire during its departure at approximately 7:45 p.m. as a major winter storm began impacting the area.
Audio logs from air traffic control, shared by www.LiveATC.net, captured a voice stating, “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,” shortly after the plane was cleared for takeoff. Rescue teams arrived on the scene within minutes, according to airport director Jose Saavedra.
Experts are considering weather conditions and potential ice accumulation on the wings as initial factors in the crash, although the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate all possibilities.
“You can count on the fact that NTSB is going to look very closely at this,” said John Cox, the CEO of Safety Operating Systems.
Initially, the Federal Aviation Administration reported seven fatalities and one injury. However, it revised its figures after local authorities confirmed that all six people on board perished.
Despite heavy snowfall elsewhere, conditions in Bangor had only recently started to worsen at the time of the crash. Other aircraft had successfully taken off, though a Florida-bound Allegiant flight aborted its takeoff due to reduced visibility and deicing issues.
Concerns Over Icing on Bombardier Challenger 600
The Bombardier Challenger 600 model has a history of icing issues during takeoff, contributing to fatal accidents in Birmingham, England, and Montrose, Colorado, over two decades ago, according to aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti. Even minimal ice on the wings can be dangerous, necessitating thorough deicing before takeoff. The deicing process is effective for only about 20 minutes, highlighting the urgency of quick turnaround times.
According to the National Weather Service, Bangor received nearly 10 inches of snow, but only light snowfall and 10 mph winds were present at the time of the incident. Temperatures had dropped below 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Given the weather conditions at the time, and the history of wing contamination with this particular aircraft, I’m sure that’s something the NTSB is going to look into immediately,” Guzzetti said.
The aircraft had arrived from Houston at 6:09 p.m. and sat in the cold, possibly accumulating ice on its wings. Cold jet fuel stored in the wing tanks could have exacerbated ice formation, a factor previously identified in similar accidents by the NTSB.
In response to past incidents, the FAA has implemented stricter deicing standards and mandated that Bombardier update its flight manuals to include cold weather warnings.
Victims and Investigation
The identities of the crash victims remain unconfirmed. The jet was registered to a corporation sharing an address with the Houston-based law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers. The aircraft was en route to France when the accident occurred.
Bangor International Airport, a frequent refueling stop for transatlantic flights, has been closed to facilitate the investigation. The NTSB and FAA are working to remove the wreckage, and a preliminary report is expected within a month.
