The wreckage of a fatal plane crash was still on the ground at the Bangor airport Wednesday morning — more than 60 hours after the disaster claimed six lives.
The upside down business jet is coated in snow and frozen fire fighting foam, Bangor Daily News reporters saw Wednesday morning. The wreck is off the runway, near its northern end.
Six people are presumed dead after the jet flipped over and caught fire as it was taking off around 7:45 p.m. Sunday at the Bangor International Airport, according to Bangor police.
A massive snow storm delayed the arrival of National Transportation Safety Board investigators, as members of the team began arriving in Bangor on Tuesday with more expected on Wednesday, a spokesperson previously said. The remains of those killed on board were still trapped in the wreckage as of Tuesday afternoon.
At least 10 people, most wearing high visibility jackets, could be seen Wednesday morning working around the crash. The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration are in charge of the investigation.
The Bangor airport, NTSB and the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning on the status of the investigation.
A large enclosed tent and a semi tractor trailer with a flat bed were also spotted near the scene of the wreckage.
The Bangor airport will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The medical examiner’s office is working with law enforcement to confirm the identities of the people in the plane, spokesperson Lindsey Chasteen said Tuesday. The office is in charge of investigating “sudden, unexpected and violent deaths.”
The NTSB investigates plane crashes to figure out the likely cause, but does not speculate on the potential cause during the on-scene phase, a spokesperson said.
Investigators will collect a wide range of information, including recordings of air traffic control communications, weather forecasts and aircraft maintenance records, the spokesperson said.
The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600, has a history of failing during winter weather conditions.
Four of the victims killed in the crash have been identified so far by family and friends. They include Nick Mastrascusa, Tara Arnold, Shawna Collins and pilot Jacob Hosmer.
The Bangor airport is closed until at least 9 a.m. Thursday.
