A private jet with eight people on board crashed shortly after takeoff from Bangor International Airport (BGR) in Maine on Monday, January 27, 2026, aviation authorities confirmed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time as the aircraft was departing Runway 33. The plane reportedly suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after rotation, veered off the runway, and came to rest in a wooded area near the airport perimeter.
Emergency responders from Bangor Fire Department, Maine State Police, and Penobscot County EMS were on scene within minutes. All eight occupants pilot, co-pilot, and six passengers were recovered from the wreckage. Initial reports indicate no fatalities, but several people sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious. They were transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and other nearby hospitals.
The aircraft type has not yet been officially released, but aviation tracking data and eyewitness accounts suggest it was a mid-size business jet (possibly a Gulfstream or similar model). The jet was privately chartered and not operating under a commercial flight number.
Key Details (as of 4:30 p.m. EST):
No fire reported after impact.
Weather at the time: Overcast, light snow flurries, visibility ~3 miles, temperature near freezing.
Runway 33 was in use; no other aircraft were affected.
NTSB has dispatched a “Go Team” from Washington, D.C., to lead the investigation.
FAA temporarily closed portions of the airport; commercial operations have resumed on alternate runways.
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The cause of the crash is under active investigation. Preliminary focus is on possible engine failure, bird strike, or pilot error during takeoff. Black box (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder) recovery is underway.
No names of those on board have been released pending family notification.
This is a developing story. DDNewsOnline will provide updates as more information becomes available.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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