Washington [US], January 27: A business jet crashed during takeoff in a snowstorm and with poor visibility in Maine on the evening of January 25, killing at least six people, according to AP.
A Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine, at approximately 7:45 p.m. local time on January 25, as a major snowstorm began to hit the area, according to AP . By the afternoon of January 26, airport officials announced that there were six people on board the plane, according to the passenger list, and all of them had perished.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced seven fatalities and one surviving crew member, but an FAA spokesperson said those numbers were preliminary and subject to change. The airport confirmed that no one was taken to the hospital.
Heavy snowfall was occurring elsewhere at the time of the crash, but snow had only just begun to accumulate in Bangor. Other planes had taken off safely.
Approximately 30 minutes before the plane crashed, the pilot of an Allegiant aircraft en route to Florida contacted air traffic control to abort takeoff.
At the same time, the Bombardier pilot taxied to the de-icing area and was communicating via radio to request assistance with the wing and tail, according to an audio recording posted by LiveATC.net . The aircraft remained in the de-icing area for approximately 20 minutes before taxiing onto the runway.
According to AP, aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, the Bombardier Challenger 600 aircraft "has a history of problems with icing on takeoff," which has led to previous accidents. Guzzetti added that even a small amount of ice on the wings can cause serious problems, so this passenger aircraft needs to be de-iced before takeoff.
FAA records show the crashed Bombardier began operating in April 2020, according to Reuters.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
