PORTLAND, Maine: A business jet crashed during takeoff in a snowstorm, killing all six people aboard in Maine on the night of January 25.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 flipped over and burned on takeoff at Bangor International Airport around 7:45 p.m.

An audio recording of air traffic controllers posted by www.LiveATC.net 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, airport director Jose Saavedra said.

The National Transportation Safety Board will likely focus on whether ice accumulating on the wings prevented the plane from becoming airborne, among other possible factors in the crash. This has been reported at least twice before on that plane model.

"You can count on the fact that NTSB is going to look very closely at this," said John Cox, who is CEO of Safety Operating Systems.

The airport said on January 26 that six people were on the plane and all of them died, based on the passenger list. Earlier, the FAA had said seven people died, and one was hurt, but said the numbers might change.

It was snowing in other areas at the time, and snow had just started falling in Bangor. Other planes had taken off safely until about 30 minutes before the crash, when a pilot flying to Florida stopped his takeoff after talking to the control tower.

Around the same time, the Bombardier jet had gone to the area where planes are treated to remove ice. The pilot asked for the wings and tail to be cleared of ice, according to recorded radio messages. The aircraft stayed there for about 20 minutes before moving to the runway.

An aviation safety expert said this type of Bombardier Challenger 600 jet has had problems with ice during takeoff in the past, resulting in deadly crashes in England and Colorado more than 20 years ago.

Weather officials said the airport later got nearly 10 inches of snow, but only a small amount had fallen when the crash happened. Winds were about 10 miles per hour, which is normal. The temperature dropped to about -16°C while the jet was in Bangor.

Officials said they will not release the names of the people on the plane until their identities are confirmed.

The jet was owned by a company with the same Houston address as the law firm Arnold and Itkin, and one of the law firm's founders is listed as the official contact for the plane's owner.