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In a statement posted to Facebook, city and airport officials urged patience as emergency crews continued their work.
“First responders are still on the scene and are expected to be actively working the site for several more hours before any additional information is available,” the City of Bangor and Bangor International Airport said.
Chilling air traffic control audio released after the crash paints a chaotic picture of the moments surrounding the incident.
Minutes before the jet was cleared for takeoff, controllers and pilots could be heard discussing low visibility and deicing concerns, according to local station WABI.
Roughly two minutes after the aircraft received clearance, the tone of the radio traffic changed dramatically.
“All traffic is stopped on the field! All traffic is stopped on the field!” a controller urgently announced.
Moments later, the situation became even more dire.
“Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,” the controller said next.
The audio, reportedly obtained from LiveATC.net and cited by CNN, underscores just how quickly the routine operation spiraled into a full-scale emergency.
As of 7:50 a.m. Monday, Bangor police confirmed that the airport remained closed while crews continued to respond to the crash and investigators began their work.
The emergency response was massive.
Officials said the 101st Maine Air National Guard was dispatched to assist, alongside Bangor police and fire units from multiple surrounding communities. Departments from Brewer, Eddington, Glenburn, Hampden, Hermon, Holden, Hudson, Levant, Orono, and Orrington all sent crews to the scene, highlighting the seriousness of the incident.
Adding another layer of intrigue, KHOU-TV reported that the aircraft was owned by a Houston-area law firm, raising questions about the purpose of the flight and the passengers onboard.
Weather conditions are expected to be a major focus of the investigation.
WGME-TV noted that Sunday’s storm was particularly intense, with heavy snowfall, reduced visibility, and dangerous icing conditions. Forecasters warned that additional snow was expected Monday, prolonging travel disruptions across the region.
The crash is likely to renew debate over whether flights should be cleared for takeoff during extreme winter conditions and how much risk is acceptable when severe weather threatens safety.
For now, investigators are working to determine what went wrong, while the airport remains closed and the people of Maine wait for answers.
This is a developing story. Updates are expected as officials release more information.
