A routine departure in wintry conditions ended in catastrophe Sunday night, when a private jet overturned and erupted into flames
A routine departure in wintry conditions ended in catastrophe Sunday night, when a private jet overturned and erupted into flames during takeoff at a Maine airport, killing seven people and leaving one crew member as the sole survivor.
According to the New York Post, the crash occurred at Bangor International Airport around 7:45 p.m. as heavy snow fell during Winter Storm Fern, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The twin-engine Bombardier Challenger 600 flipped upside down shortly after attempting to leave the runway and caught fire, prompting an immediate emergency response and the shutdown of airport operations.
Haunting radio transmissions recorded moments before and after the crash have since drawn attention.
In one recording, an unidentified voice can be heard saying, “Let there be light,” shortly before the jet was cleared for takeoff. It remains unclear whether the comment came from a pilot or an air traffic controller, or what it was referencing.
Minutes later, urgency filled the airwaves.
“All traffic is stopped on the field!” another voice shouted repeatedly as first responders rushed toward the burning aircraft.
