7 Killed, 1 Injured in Private Plane Crash at Maine Airport

Seven passengers were killed and a crew member seriously injured in a single plane crash Sunday night at Bangor International Airport in Maine, according to a preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The aircraft apparently crashed on the runway about 7:45 pm while departing the airport. The plane became inverted when it crashed and then it caught fire, the FAA reported.

The private plane was a Bombardier CL 600 airplane registered to a Houston law firm, Arnold and Itkin.

The airport was being hit with a snowstorm at the time, although it was not closed. Planes were landing and departing while snow clearing and de-icing efforts were underway, according to Jose Saavedra, airport director. He said it is “normal” for the airport’s work crews to deal with weather events.

The cause of the crash remains unknown. The storm has impeded the arrival of an investigative team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Saavedra said the team may not be on scene until this evening.

State and local emergency crews and the National Guard worked through Sunday evening at the crash site. The public was asked to avoid the airport area.

The airport closed and all flights were cancelled after the accident. It will remain closed until at least Wednesday at noon,