A private jet carrying eight people crashed while taking off from Bangor International Airport on Sunday night, aviation authorities said, as a major winter storm swept across the eastern United States.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down at about 7:45 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The conditions of those on board were not immediately known, and authorities did not release their identities.
Bangor International Airport said the airport was closed as emergency crews responded to the crash and urged the public to avoid the area.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said they will investigate the incident.
The crash occurred amid hazardous winter weather affecting much of the region. Bangor remains under a winter storm warning, with heavy snow and reduced visibility reported around the time of the incident, according to the National Weather Service.
Air traffic control audio reviewed by U.S. media captured pilots discussing poor visibility shortly before the crash, though officials have not confirmed whether weather conditions contributed to the accident.
The incident added to widespread travel disruptions caused by the storm, which led to thousands of flight cancellations and delays nationwide over the weekend.
