Seven people were killed and one crew member seriously injured when a private jet crashed on takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday night, officials said.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down during a heavy winter storm as it tried to lift off at about 7.45 pm local time. The aircraft was reportedly connected to a Houston law firm.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the jet, carrying eight people, crashed during takeoff amid freezing snow and icy conditions.
Emergency responders were on the scene for hours as the airport was closed and flights were cancelled in the region.
The aircraft was registered to KTKJ Challenger LLC, a company that shares an address in Houston, Texas, with the personal injury firm Arnold & Itkin Trial Lawyers. One of the firm’s founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the jet.
Investigative reporter Steve Robinson posted on X that the plane belonged to “top anti‑ICE / anti‑Trump lawyers who defended illegal aliens”, and that all passengers were presumed dead.
He named attorneys Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold, known for representing immigrants in high‑profile cases in Texas. Robinson’s post also alleged political donations by the firms to a PAC that campaigned against Republican candidates in the 2024 elections. Those claims have not been independently verified beyond his post.
🚨 Private jet crashed in Maine belonged to top anti-ICE / anti-Trump lawyers who defended illegal aliens; all passengers presumed dead.Here's what we know:
- A 2020 Bombardier CL-600 Challenger belonging to KTKJ Challenger LLC crashed on takeoff last night at Bangor… pic.twitter.com/bEMczzeOVQ
— Steve Robinson (@SteveRob) January 26, 2026
The storm that battered much of the US contributed to hazardous travel conditions, cancelling thousands of flights and halting road and air traffic.
Airport director Jose Saavedra said authorities were awaiting guidance from federal partners and would not comment further on victims’ identities.
Audio recordings reviewed by investigators include air traffic communications indicating “Aircraft upside down” shortly after takeoff clearance, and witnesses described the plane inverted on the runway.
The firm Arnold & Itkin is known within legal circles for major personal injury lawsuits, and one of its founding partners is tied to the registered ownership of the jet.
