BANGOR, Maine – A private business plane crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport on Sunday evening, killing all six people onboard. Officials say it is among the most deadly aviation accidents in Maine in recent years.

The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600, flipped upside down and caught fire soon after leaving the runway around 7:45 p.m. The crash happened as a nor’easter began pushing snow across parts of the state.

The incident rattled the Bangor area, where the airport handles both commercial flights and private aircraft. Police, airport staff, and emergency teams secured the scene as investigators began gathering early information.

Bangor Fire Department crews, the Maine National Guard, and responders from nearby towns arrived within minutes. They fought the fire while snow and wind picked up. Witnesses described a dull orange flash, followed by a loud boom in the stormy night.

Local officials confirm six onboard plane

Bangor police and airport director Jose Saavedra said the flight manifest showed six people were on the twin-engine jet. No one was taken to the hospital, and all six are believed to have died at the scene.

Early FAA information confused stating there were eight people onboard, with seven deaths and one serious injury. Bangor officials pushed back Monday, saying the manifest listed six total passengers and crew, all fatally injured. The FAA noted that early details can change as investigators confirm facts.

Officials said the plane was a 2020 Bombardier Challenger 600 registered to KTKJ Challenger LLC in Houston, Texas. It reportedly arrived earlier from Houston. Sources familiar with the situation connected the jet to Arnold & Itkin, a Houston-based personal injury law firm.

Authorities have not released the victims’ names as they wait for identification and family notifications. One report named Tara Arnold as a victim, with a county official calling her “a phenomenal person, a bold leader.”

Winter weather and visibility issues at the time of the plane crash

The crash took place as heavy winter weather spread across the Northeast. National Weather Service data showed light but steady snow at the airport around the time of the incident. Temperatures were near 2 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chills around minus 13.

Visibility dropped to about three-quarters of a mile in freezing fog. Bangor was under a winter storm warning. Snow buildup at the airport was still developing, but totals reached close to 10 inches by the next day.

Flights continued around the time of the crash, with de-icing operations underway. Other aircraft landed and took off safely before and after the incident. Saavedra said crews were already on site responding to the storm, and runways stayed open during active snow response.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating. The NTSB is expected to review weather conditions, aircraft performance, pilot actions, maintenance records, and the possibility of icing.

Aviation safety experts have pointed to the Challenger 600’s history of wing icing concerns during takeoff. Former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti told media outlets that even small ice buildup can reduce lift and increase risk. Bombardier and regulators have issued guidance on de-icing practices, though it is not yet clear what steps were taken before this flight.

Air traffic control recordings captured the alarm in the moments after the plane went down, including a call reporting the aircraft was upside down. Responders reached the site in under a minute, but the fire made rescue and recovery difficult.

One of Maine’s deadliest aviation accidents in decades

The crash now joins a short list of Maine’s most tragic aviation events. Historic examples include two fatal accidents on July 11, 1944, one involving a B-17 bomber near Rangeley that killed 10 people, along with another deadly crash elsewhere in the state the same day.

More recent incidents have involved fewer victims, though Bangor International Airport saw another fatal crash just months earlier that killed one person.

Bangor International Airport remained closed through at least midday Wednesday as NTSB teams worked the scene and cleanup continued. The agency cited weather-related travel delays for investigators, but said the review will be thorough.

A preliminary NTSB update could come in the next few weeks. A final report often takes months.

The losses have hit hard in Bangor and beyond. Local leaders praised the fast work of first responders and asked the public to keep the victims’ families in mind as the investigation moves forward.

Trending News:

Facebook Loses $200 Billion as Users Shift to TikTok

MINNESOTA –  U.S. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and a group of agents are expected to leave Minneapolis soon and return to their home sectors, according to the New York Times. The shift signals a change in how the Trump administration is handling its hard-line immigration push in Minnesota.

The expected exit comes after weeks of anger over deadly confrontations involving federal officers, including the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens. It also follows President Donald Trump’s choice to send White House border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take direct control of operations there.

Greg Bovino is expected to return to California’s El Centro sector, where he previously served as chief patrol agent before being assigned to high-profile deployments across the country.

People familiar with the planning said Bovino could begin leaving as early as Tuesday. An unknown number of Border Patrol agents would go with him.

Not every agent assigned under Operation Metro Surge is expected to leave. The operation has brought more than 3,000 federal personnel into Minnesota. Still, the partial withdrawal is being read as a step toward calming a situation that has rattled Minneapolis since early January.

Greg Bovino’s national role and the Minneapolis spotlight

Greg Bovino, a nearly 30-year Border Patrol veteran, became a visible figure during the second Trump presidency. He often served as the face of large immigration raids in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and New Orleans. Those deployments regularly drew lawsuits, street protests, and claims of excessive force.

In Minneapolis, Greg Bovino led daily press briefings and defended agent actions after a Saturday shooting that killed 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Authorities said Pretti was armed and recording federal officers when he was shot. Bovino said, without publicly shared evidence, that Pretti planned to “massacre” agents. Witness accounts and video footage challenged that claim.

The Pretti killing followed the January 7 death of Renée Good, who was shot by an ICE agent during clashes near Roosevelt High School grounds. The two incidents intensified protests and renewed accusations that federal forces used heavy tactics, including tear gas and less-lethal rounds, against demonstrators.

Trump and Walz talk as Homan takes charge

President Trump spoke by phone on Monday with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Trump later described the call as productive and said the two were “on a similar wavelength.” Trump also announced on Truth Social that Homan would be sent to Minnesota to oversee ICE operations and report directly to the president.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the situation on Monday and said the administration wants to restore order while continuing deportations. She said President Trump gave Walz three requirements meant to end what the White House called “resistance and chaos” in Minnesota and reduce the need for Border Patrol support.

Leavitt listed the conditions as:

• Full cooperation in handing over people in state jails and prisons who are in the country illegally
• Ending sanctuary-style policies that block federal enforcement
• Active help from state and local officials to identify and process undocumented immigrants

“If Governor Walz and Mayor [Jacob] Frey implement these common-sense cooperative measures, which have already been implemented in nearly every other state, Customs and Border Patrol will not be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt praised Greg Bovino as a “wonderful man and great professional” and said he would keep a national leadership role within Border Patrol. She said Homan would take the lead on day-to-day ground operations in Minneapolis. Leavitt also said the president continues to back Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has overseen the department’s broader response.

Walz welcomes signs of a drawdown

Tim Walz, a Democrat who has openly fought the administration over the federal surge, welcomed the idea of fewer federal agents in the state. After the call with Trump, Walz said progress was being made on reducing personnel levels and giving state investigators more access to evidence tied to the Pretti shooting investigation.

Minnesota officials have also filed lawsuits challenging Operation Metro Surge. They argue the scale of the effort crosses constitutional lines and puts public safety at risk.

The federal deployments began after allegations of welfare fraud in Minnesota, which the administration connected to broader immigration enforcement. Critics, including local officials and civil rights groups, have described the surge as political payback aimed at a Democratic-leaning area that opposed Trump in recent elections.

As Greg Bovino and some agents prepare to leave, uncertainty remains around the future of Operation Metro Surge and whether Homan’s arrival will ease tensions or raise the stakes. Protests continued over the weekend, and calls for independent investigations into both fatal shootings have grown louder.

For now, the partial withdrawal stands as the clearest move toward de-escalation since the crisis began. Administration officials say enforcement will continue, with more focus on cooperation instead of confrontation.

Related News:

ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Shot and Killed By Federal Agents in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sharply criticized Minnesota leaders during an appearance on Fox News, saying Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz have helped shield dangerous criminals through sanctuary-style policies.

Her remarks came as tensions rose in Minneapolis, where federal immigration enforcement has triggered clashes. Recent unrest has included a fatal shooting involving a Border Patrol agent and ongoing protests that have turned chaotic.

On Fox News Live, Bondi pointed to recent arrests in Minnesota and said they show what happens when illegal immigration is not strictly enforced. “These are the illegals that Joe Biden was letting into our country, and they were all going to Minneapolis because the mayor and the governor were protecting them,” Bondi said.

Bondi then cited a list of charges from recent cases, describing what she said was a clear pattern of violent and sexual crimes. She mentioned allegations including sodomy of a boy, strong-arm robbery, sexual assault, sodomy of a girl under the age of 16, rape involving a 12-year-old girl, strong-arm rape and assault, convicted rape, and fondling.

“THE MAYOR and GOVERNOR are PROTECTING criminals,” Bondi said, as she tied the arrests to situations where federal detainers were not honored, and people were released from local custody.

Bondi’s comments match broader Trump administration messaging on deportations and enforcement, with a focus on removing people accused of serious crimes. Federal efforts have increased in sanctuary areas, including parts of Minnesota, where local policies may limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. Federal officials have argued that these limits can lead to people being released from local jails even when an immigration hold is pending.

Pam Bondi, Minnesota protests, violent anti-ICE demonstrations, illegal immigrants arrests Minnesota, sanctuary policies Minnesota, Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, criminal illegal aliens Minneapolis, sexual assault charges Minnesota, rape arrests illegals, Fox News Pam Bondi interview, AG Bondi Minnesota officials, ICE operations Minneapolis 2026, Border Patrol shooting Minnesota.

Escalating Tensions in Minneapolis

Anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis have grown more intense in recent weeks, driven by opposition to stepped-up ICE raids and other federal enforcement actions. Protesters have chanted “ICE out!” and gathered in freezing conditions. Several demonstrations have ended in confrontations with law enforcement. Reports have described incidents involving assaults on federal agents, property damage, and disruptions that the Department of Justice has condemned.

One reported incident involved a man allegedly being struck with a flagpole during unrest in a parking garage. Another case involved three Venezuelan nationals who were arrested after an ICE officer was reportedly ambushed and attacked during a traffic stop. Federal officials have said they plan to keep operating despite public pushback. They have described their targets as among the “worst of the worst,” including people tied to murder, sexual predation, and other violent crimes.

Bondi’s statements also appeared to reference figures attributed to ICE and other federal sources that point to large numbers of arrests in Minnesota during recent operations. Conservative media have repeated claims that sanctuary policies under Walz and Frey have contributed to releases of people with serious criminal records, which federal officials say can increase the chance of repeat offenses.

Local leaders and other critics have pushed back. They argue the operations are too broad, racially charged, and harmful to communities. Mayor Frey has called for more state involvement in reviewing incidents tied to federal agents, including a high-profile shooting death that set off protests. Frey has also criticized the Department of Justice under Bondi, describing federal actions as overly aggressive.

Governor Walz has defended Minnesota’s approach while urging more targeted enforcement. He has warned against broad actions that he says can alienate residents and raise tensions.

Bondi’s Broader Message on Immigration Enforcement

Bondi’s Fox News appearance fits the Trump administration’s push to remove criminal noncitizens from the country. The attorney general has backed legal action against sanctuary jurisdictions in other places as well, including lawsuits targeting policies in Chicago and Illinois. The administration argues those rules conflict with federal law and put public safety at risk.

In Minnesota, attention has centered on Minneapolis and its sanctuary reputation. Federal spokespeople have claimed the city attracts people who believe they will face less cooperation between local authorities and ICE. Federal officials have described the current effort as focused on violent offenders and sexual predators, even as protests continue and disruptions spread. Some demonstrations have also caused controversy in places like churches, including one linked to an ICE official who serves as a pastor.

The DOJ has said it may bring charges against people who interfere with federal officers. Officials have referenced civil rights laws in some cases when describing what they call felony-level obstruction during enforcement actions.

Bondi also issued a warning to protesters, saying “no one is above the law,” and said anyone who blocks federal operations should expect consequences. Her list of charges, including alleged crimes against minors and violent assaults, was presented as the reason for the enforcement push.

Reactions and Ongoing Developments

Bondi’s Fox News segment drew immediate reaction. Supporters praised her for calling out what they see as weak local leadership. Critics said the administration is inflaming divisions and using harsh rhetoric to defend large-scale deportation efforts.

As protests continue in Minneapolis, federal agents remain active in the area, carrying out what officials describe as targeted operations against people tied to serious crimes. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has stepped back from some joint work connected to ICE-related incidents, adding strain to state and federal relations.

With immigration enforcement back at the center of national debate, Bondi’s comments have placed Minnesota in the spotlight again. Long argued over for its sanctuary policies, the state has become a key flashpoint as federal authorities push their approach and local leaders resist it.

As operations continue and protests persist, the conflict between federal enforcement goals and local governance appears likely to intensify in the days and weeks ahead.

Related News:

ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Shot and Killed By Federal Agents in Minneapolis