A private jet spiraled into disaster on Sunday evening, crashing moments after takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine amid a brutal winter storm.

On Sunday evening, around 7:45 p.m., a Bombardier Challenger 600 carrying eight passengers crashed just after departing from Bangor International Airport, as heavy snowfall from Winter Storm Fern pummeled the Northeast.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident to The Post, while emergency crews rushed to the scene. The airport was promptly closed as first responders assessed the wreckage, though the condition of those on board remains unknown.

Winter Storm Fern brought punishing snowfall and below-freezing temperatures to Maine, with audio obtained by CNN revealing pilots and air traffic controllers discussing low visibility and aircraft de-icing just before the crash.

A controller cleared the jet for takeoff on Runway 33, but within two minutes, traffic on the field was halted. The jet, registered to a Houston-based law firm that did not respond to inquiries, was later described as upside down at the scene, the New York Post reported.

Storm Conditions Raise Serious Questions

The issue has sparked debate over whether safety protocols are tight enough when Mother Nature unleashes her fury. Should airports be quicker to shut down runways when visibility drops to near zero? It’s not about coddling anyone—it’s about common-sense risk management.

Listen to the air traffic controller’s urgency in the audio obtained by CNN: “All traffic is stopped on the field! All traffic is stopped on the field!” That’s not a casual heads-up; it’s a desperate alert that something went horribly wrong in mere minutes.

Then there’s the chilling follow-up from another controller: “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down.” If that doesn’t scream for a hard look at how we handle storm-season flights, what does?

Airport Response and Public Safety

Bangor International Airport itself posted on social media, urging caution: “An incident at the airport is under investigation.” They added that first responders were on-site and asked the public to steer clear. Smart move—the last thing needed is a crowd complicating an already messy situation.

But let’s be real: closing the airport after the fact feels like locking the barn door once the horse is long gone. Why wasn’t there a preemptive pause on takeoffs when snow was blanketing the runway? Hindsight isn’t 20/20 here; it’s a neon sign flashing “do better.”

The FAA and other authorities will no doubt investigate, and they should. If de-icing or visibility issues played a role, as the audio suggests, then policies need a serious overhaul. No one’s asking for a nanny state—just for rules that match the reality on the ground.

Winter Storm Fern’s Wider Impact

Winter Storm Fern didn’t just target Bangor; it’s been hammering much of the Northeast with relentless snow and frigid temps.

While we don’t yet know the fate of the eight souls on that jet, the storm’s role in this tragedy seems undeniable. Nature doesn’t play favorites, and neither should safety regs.

Progressive types might argue we’re overreacting, that airports can’t shut down every time a flake falls. Fine, but when a passenger jet ends up inverted on a runway, that’s not a minor oops—it’s a wake-up call. Balance risk, sure, but err on the side of life.

The Houston law firm owning the jet stayed silent when contacted by The Post. That’s their right, but it doesn’t help public trust. If they’ve got nothing to hide, a simple statement of concern would go a long way.