SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and one seriously injured on Sunday evening after a private business jet carrying eight people crashed during takeoff in Bangor, the U.S. state of Maine, according to a preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA report said the aircraft "crashed under unknown circumstances on departure, came to rest inverted and caught fire."

Bangor International Airport said that emergency crews responded to the incident at around 7:45 p.m. local time. The airport has been closed and will remain shut until at least noon Wednesday, according to the airport.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

According to federal records, the aircraft was a Bombardier Challenger business jet registered to a limited liability corporation based in Houston, Texas.

The crash occurred as a major snowstorm swept through the northeastern United States. Temperatures in Maine were well below freezing, with very low visibility. ■