Six Killed as Bombardier Challenger Flips During Takeoff Amid Snowstorm, Investigation Launched
Updated (10 articles)
Crash Occurs Seconds After Takeoff Clearance At approximately 7:45 p.m. Sunday, a Bombardier Challenger 600/650 business jet rolled onto its nose, inverted and ignited on Runway 33 at Bangor International Airport, killing all six occupants listed on the manifest [1][2][3]. Air‑traffic‑control recordings captured a controller’s urgent “Aircraft upside down” alert about 45 seconds after the aircraft received takeoff clearance [1][4]. First responders reached the scene within a minute and found the wreckage burning on the runway [1][4].
Severe Winter Storm Creates Hazardous Conditions The airport was experiencing a developing snowstorm with temperatures below 3 °F (‑16 °C), wind near 10 mph, and visibility reduced to roughly three‑quarters of a mile [1][5][6]. Snowfall accumulated to nearly 10 inches by the time the runway was closed [1][5]. Pilots of other carriers reported failed wing‑ice checks and pressure to depart despite the deteriorating weather [2].
Deicing Delay Raises Icing Concerns The pilot requested deicing and the jet remained on the deicing pad for about 20 minutes before taxiing, a period after which deicing fluid effectiveness diminishes [1]. The Challenger model has a documented history of takeoff icing incidents, including fatal crashes in the United Kingdom and Colorado [1]. Investigators are examining whether ice buildup contributed to loss of lift during the takeoff roll [1][5].
Ownership Traced to Houston Law‑Firm‑Linked LLC FAA and public‑record data show the aircraft was registered to a limited‑liability corporation in Houston that shares an address with Arnold & Itkin Trial Lawyers, with a founding partner listed as the registered agent [1][3][4][5][6]. The registration suggests corporate rather than private ownership, a detail highlighted across multiple reports [1][3].
Airport Shut and Federal Probes Initiated Bangor International Airport was closed through at least Wednesday noon while wreckage removal and investigations proceeded [2][3][4]. The FAA and NTSB opened full investigations, with a preliminary report expected within roughly a month and a final report projected to take more than a year [1][5]. Early FAA statements listed seven fatalities and one serious injury, but airport officials later confirmed only six people were aboard and all perished [2][3][4].
Sources (10 articles)
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[1]
AP: Fatal Business Jet Crash at Bangor International Airport Amid Snowstorm: Provides the most recent fatal‑count correction to six, details deicing delay, ownership link to a law firm, and investigation timeline .
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[2]
CNN: Six Presumed Dead After Private Jet Crashes While Departing Bangor Airport: Highlights pilot safety concerns from other airlines, the aircraft’s flight path from Houston to Paris, and NTSB’s request for public assistance .
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[3]
WBNS: Six Killed When Private Jet Crashed at Bangor Airport Amid Winter Storm: Emphasizes the discrepancy between early FAA and airport fatality figures and notes Maine Air National Guard’s rapid response .
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[4]
King5: Private Jet Crash at Bangor International Airport Leaves Six Dead: Focuses on the airport’s closure duration, first‑responder arrival time, and confirms ownership to a Houston LLC linked to a law firm .
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[5]
Newsweek (Jan 26): Bangor Business Jet Crash Leaves Six Dead Amid Snowstorm: Stresses the Challenger 600’s icing history, the aircraft’s hour‑long wait in snow before departure, and the FAA/NTSB investigative scope .
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[6]
BBC: Private Jet Crash at Bangor International Airport Kills Seven Amid Winter Storm: Initially reports seven deaths and one survivor, includes poor‑visibility ATC chatter, and outlines broader storm‑related travel disruptions .
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[7]
AP (Jan 26): Private Jet Crash at Bangor International Airport Amid Winter Storm: Reports eight occupants, describes nationwide flight cancellations, and provides background on the Challenger’s design .
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[8]
Newsweek (Jan 26 03:55): Private Business Jet Crashes During Takeoff at Bangor Airport Amid Snowstorm: Details emergency operation center activation and promises further updates by Monday morning .
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[9]
WBNS (Jan 26 03:41): Private Jet Crash at Bangor International Airport: Notes eight people aboard, unclear injury status, and coordination among state and federal investigators .
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[10]
King5 (Jan 26 03:41): Private Jet Crashes at Bangor Airport, Investigation Ongoing: Reiterates aircraft registration, first‑responder presence, and uncertainty about weather’s role .
Timeline
1980 – Bombardier introduces the Challenger 600, the first private jet with a “walk‑about cabin,” establishing a model that later becomes popular for charter and corporate use. [6]
Prior to 2026 – The Challenger 600 series records fatal icing‑related crashes in Birmingham, England and Montrose, Colorado, underscoring the aircraft’s sensitivity to wing ice and the limited effectiveness window of deicing fluid. [5]
Jan 25, 2026 (2:20 p.m. CST) – The Bombardier Challenger 650 departs Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, bound for Bangor, Maine, beginning a flight that will later encounter severe winter weather. [2]
Jan 25, 2026 (6:10 p.m. EST) – The jet lands at Bangor International Airport and taxis to a deicing pad, where it remains for roughly 20 minutes while the crew requests and applies deicing treatment. [2][5]
Jan 25, 2026 (early evening) – The National Weather Service issues a winter‑storm warning for Bangor through Tuesday, forecasting 10‑16 inches of snow and sub‑freezing temperatures, conditions that later reduce runway visibility to about three‑quarters of a mile. [1][3]
Jan 25, 2026 (minutes before 7:45 p.m.) – Air‑traffic‑control recordings capture pilots and controllers discussing limited visibility and poor‑visibility warnings, highlighting crew concerns as the storm intensifies. [1]
Jan 25, 2026 (7:45 p.m. EST) – The Challenger 650 attempts takeoff from Runway 33, inverts, and bursts into flames on the runway, killing all six occupants listed on the manifest; an ATC audio clip later reports “Aircraft upside down.” [1][5][7]
Jan 25, 2026 (immediately after crash) – First‑responders, including the Maine Air National Guard, arrive within a minute; an Emergency Operation Center is activated to coordinate fire, rescue, and investigation efforts, while the runway is shut down. [4][5][7]
Jan 25, 2026 (overnight) – Bangor International Airport remains closed, halting all arrivals and departures; officials project the shutdown to last at least until noon on Wednesday, Jan 28, to allow wreckage removal and site security. [2][5]
Jan 26, 2026 – The National Transportation Safety Board dispatches an investigative team to the crash site, and the FAA announces it will post a preliminary accident report the following business day. [2][4]
Jan 26‑27, 2026 – The FAA and NTSB open a full investigation, requesting public assistance for surveillance video and stating that a preliminary report will be issued within roughly 30 days, with a final report expected in 12‑24 months. [2][7]
Jan 25‑26, 2026 – The winter storm that enveloped Bangor also triggers nationwide disruptions, causing about 12,000 flight cancellations and nearly 20,000 delays across the eastern United States, and contributing to at least a dozen deaths elsewhere. [6][1]
Feb 2026 (expected) – A preliminary NTSB report is slated for release, expected to detail findings on weather, possible wing‑ice accumulation, and deicing procedures, guiding safety recommendations for future operations of Challenger‑type jets. [7]
2027 (expected) – The final NTSB investigation report, projected for completion within 12‑24 months, will provide a definitive cause analysis and may influence regulatory changes for winter‑operations protocols. [7]
External resources (9 links)
- https://x.com/FAANews/status/2015613255872381071?s=20 (cited 4 times)
- https://www.facebook.com/FlyBGR/posts/pfbid08M5bFVs1s48g1L3ygZRFqT9MKuhDu9C2pSjgFPnimY8snzsUYZb8HgP59tWEZkvul (cited 1 times)
- https://bit.ly/49RztOf (cited 2 times)
- https://bit.ly/4rgXGF1 (cited 2 times)
- https://flybangor.com/ntsb-investigating-crash-at-bgr/ (cited 2 times)
- http://flightaware.com/ (cited 1 times)
- http://flightradar24.com/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.LiveATC.net (cited 1 times)