On Sunday night, January 25, 2026, a private business jet crashed while attempting to take off from Bangor International Airport in Maine. The aircraft involved was a Bombardier Challenger 650, registered with tail number N10KJ. The flight had originated from Houston, Texas, and had stopped in Bangor for a refueling and technical stop before its planned journey across the Atlantic to Paris, France.

The crash occurred at approximately 7:45 PM local time during a period of treacherous winter weather. A major storm, identified as Winter Storm Fern, was sweeping across the Northeast at the time. Meteorological reports from the area indicated temperatures as low as 1 to 2 degrees Fahrenheit, light snowfall, and visibility limited to about three-quarters of a mile.

According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary flight data, the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 175 miles per hour on its takeoff roll. After lifting off, the jet reportedly began to shutter and rolled onto its roof before bursting into flames on the side of the runway. Aviation experts and dispatch records indicated that the plane ended up upside down.

There were eight people on board the aircraft. While initial reports were unclear regarding the extent of injuries, updated information from the Federal Aviation Administration and local sources suggested a tragic outcome, with reports of seven fatalities and one survivor who was a member of the flight crew and sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to KTKJ Challenger LLC, a company that shares an address with the Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin. Reports from community forums and local news suggest that the passengers included family members and associates linked to the firm.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is being led by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. While a definitive cause has not yet been established, significant attention is being paid to the weather conditions. The Bombardier Challenger family of aircraft is known to have a wing design that is highly sensitive to ice or frost contamination. Unlike many other aircraft, these jets do not have leading-edge slats, meaning even minor surface contamination can drastically reduce lift and cause an aerodynamic stall during takeoff.

Air traffic control recordings from the time of the incident reveal that pilots in the area were concerned about low visibility and icing. Records show that N10KJ underwent de-icing procedures with Type 1 and Type 4 fluids shortly before its departure. However, other pilots at the airport reported that snow was sticking to aircraft surfaces rapidly, potentially neutralizing the effectiveness of de-icing treatments within minutes. One nearby flight crew even reported failing their own decontamination test just ten minutes before the crash, noting that the snow was sticking as if no fluid had been applied.

Bangor International Airport was closed for more than 24 hours following the crash as emergency responders and investigators processed the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board's arrival was initially delayed by the same severe snowstorm that likely contributed to the accident. This event remains under investigation as federal officials work to confirm the mechanical and environmental factors that led to the disaster.

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