A private jet carrying eight people has crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport in the US state of Maine, aviation authorities have said.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down at around 19:45 local time (00:45 GMT on Monday), the Federal Aviation Administration reported, but the fate and identities of those on board are not yet known.
This incident occurred as a dangerous winter storm swept through much of the US, causing fatalities and widespread power outages. Pilots were reportedly experiencing poor visibility at the airport prior to the crash.
Bangor remains under a winter storm warning, with significant snowfall expected to continue into Tuesday.
In response to the incident, Bangor International Airport has closed and urged the public to steer clear of the area as emergency crews are on the scene.
Air traffic control audio revealed conversations between controllers and pilots that indicated issues with visibility shortly before the crash, with a controller subsequently reporting a passenger aircraft upside down. Distressing images from the scene show smoke and flames on the runway.
As this situation unfolds, the winter storm continues to wreak havoc on travel across the country, with over 11,000 flights canceled and nearly 5,500 delayed on Sunday, as reported by tracker FlightAware. Airports in major cities including Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore, and New York have been significantly affected.
According to the National Weather Service, snow accumulation in parts of Maine, including Bangor, is forecasted to reach between 10 and 16 inches (25-40cm) by Tuesday morning.
