Private jet bursts into flames during takeoff at Maine airport

Maine (Web Desk): A private aircraft burst into flames while attempting to take off from an airport in the US state of Maine, with eight people on board, aviation authorities said. Their condition and identities were not immediately released.

The crash occurred Sunday evening at around 7:45 p.m. at Bangor International Airport, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency said it would open an investigation into the incident.

Details remained limited, but a government official familiar with the situation told Reuters that a major fire broke out following the crash.

Weather reports indicated that light snowfall had begun in the area shortly before the accident. However, officials did not initially confirm whether weather conditions contributed to the crash.

At the time, a winter storm warning was in effect for most of Maine, including Bangor, which is the state’s third-largest city.

According to the same official, the twin-engine Bombardier Challenger 600 jet had flown into Maine from Texas. The aircraft is registered to a company that shares a Houston address with Arnold & Itkin, a law firm known for handling personal injury cases.

FAA data shows the jet has been in operation since April 2020.