Seven people were killed and one person was ​seriously injured when a ⁠private jet crashed as it was taking off from an airport in Bangor, Maine, the Federal Aviation Administration says.

The ‌crash of ​the twin-engine turbo-fan jet Bombardier Challenger 600 ‍at Bangor International Airport happened about 7.45pm on Sunday, the FAA said on Monday.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the ​crash, which occurred in ‌snowy weather and in low visibility conditions.

Bombardier referred questions ​to the NTSB.

The NTSB said it has no role in the release of information about victims and that such information is handled by local authorities.

But airport director Jose Saavedra declined to comment, saying at a news conference on Monday that he was “awaiting guidance and support from federal partners”.

An audio recording of air traffic controllers includes someone saying “Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down,” about 45 seconds after a plane was cleared for takeoff.

First responders arrived less than a minute later, Saavedra said.

The Bangor airport remained ‍closed on Monday morning.

The plane had arrived in Maine from Texas, the government official ​said. ​

The company ​listed as its registered ​owner shares a Houston address with Arnold & Itkin, a personal injury law firm.

FAA records show the plane went into service in April 2020.

-with AP