Private jet carrying 8 people crashes at Maine airport amid US snowstorm

A private aircraft carrying eight people crashed while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport in the U.S. state of Maine on Sunday night.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a Bombardier Challenger 600 came down during take-off at about 7.45pm local time.

No further details were immediately released by the FAA about the circumstances of the crash, which took place amid a massive snowstorm engulfing much of the U.S.

Bangor International Airport provides direct air links to major destinations including Orlando in Florida, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina. The airport sits roughly 200 miles north of Boston.

Maine is currently experiencing punishing snowfall and below-freezing temperatures as Winter Storm Fern pounded much of the Northeast on Sunday.

It was gathered that was an exchange between controllers and pilots discussing poor visibility and the need for de-icing, although it is unclear which aircraft were involved in those conversations.

One controller is heard authorising the pilot to depart from Runway 33. Less than two minutes later, the same frequency carries an urgent message: “All traffic is stopped on the field! All traffic is stopped on the field!”

Soon after, another controller reports the severity of the situation, saying: “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.”

The airport has been shut down to all flights as emergency vehicles were cleared to enter the airfield, reported CNN. In a subsequent transmission, a controller says officials were aware of “three crew and possibly five passengers” on board the aircraft.