At a Glance
- A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport on January 25, 2026.
- FAA preliminary data reported 7 fatalities and one serious injury; the airport and police later said all eight people on board were presumed dead.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has joined the investigation and is assembling a team to secure the wreckage.
A small business jet crashed and caught fire during take-off from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday night, prompting a large emergency response amid a snowstorm. The FAA’s preliminary report listed 7 deaths and one serious injury, but an updated statement from the airport and police said all eight people on board were presumed dead. The NTSB is now on site to begin its investigation.
Incident Details
The aircraft was taking off from runway 10L at around 7:45 p.m. local time on January 25, 2026.
The FAA’s online preliminary report stated:
> “AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES ON DEPARTURE, CAME TO REST INVERTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.”
Officials initially did not disclose injury details, but the FAA later confirmed 7 fatal injuries and one serious injury.
The airport and Bangor police issued an updated statement on Monday afternoon that corrected the FAA’s information:
> “According to the flight manifest there were six people on the flight. No one from the incident was transported to the hospital, and all on the flight are presumed to be deceased. The identities of the people on the flight are not being released publicly at this time, pending positive identification.”
The discrepancy highlights the evolving nature of the information as the investigation proceeds.
Weather Conditions
The crash occurred during a snowstorm that was affecting New England. Visibility at Bangor was about three-quarters of a mile, and light snow was falling.
Despite the weather, the airport remained open, with other private and commercial aircraft taking off and landing around the time of the incident.
Airport Director Jose Saavedra explained the airport’s protocol:
> “The airport remained open, there were planes landing and departing around that time and we had crews on site responding to the ongoing storm we had at that time. We have crews on site that respond to weather storms and we prepare for this on a regular basis. This is normal for us to deal with weather events and we had crews on site to address the weather event that we had ongoing. The snow removal operations were in progress and there were planes landing and departing around the time of the incident.”
Emergency Response
The airport closed for the remainder of the day and remained closed until at least noon on Wednesday.
An Emergency Operations Center remained active, and the NTSB was notified and is expected to arrive later that day.
The NTSB’s press release on January 26, 2026 confirmed its involvement:
> “A team of our investigators is currently assembling and is expected to arrive on scene shortly. Once on site, we will begin the process of documenting the scene and securing the aircraft. The plane will then be brought to a secure facility for further evaluation. A preliminary report will be available within 30 days.”
The NTSB also clarified that it has no role in releasing victim identities or injury details, which is handled by local authorities. Witnesses with relevant information are asked to contact the NTSB at [email protected].
Aircraft Information
The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet designed for nine to 11 passengers. It first entered service in 1980 as the first private jet with a “walk-about cabin” and remains a popular charter option, according to aircharterservice.com.
Investigation Status
The FAA and NTSB are jointly investigating the crash. The FAA’s preliminary report will be updated as more information becomes available.
The NTSB’s investigation will include:
- Securing the wreckage and transporting it to a secure facility.
- Documenting the scene and collecting evidence.
- Awaiting a preliminary report within 30 days.
Both agencies are coordinating closely with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.
Key Takeaways
- The crash involved a Bombardier Challenger 600 and occurred during a snowstorm.
- Initial FAA data reported 7 fatalities and one serious injury; updated statements say all eight passengers were presumed dead.
- The NTSB is on site, assembling a team to investigate, with a preliminary report due in 30 days.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Bombardier Challenger 600 |
| Date of crash | January 25, 2026 |
| Time | ~7:45 p.m. local |
| Fatalities | 7 (FAA), 8 (airport/police) |
| Serious injuries | 1 (FAA) |
| Weather | Snowstorm, ¾-mile visibility |
| Airport closure | Until noon Wednesday |
These facts illustrate the seriousness of the incident and the ongoing efforts to uncover the cause.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
