2019-10-02 12:43:59
Multiple people have been injured in a vintage plane crash Wednesday morning at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.
State police said troopers and firefighters responded to the airport in Windsor Locks for the crash around 10 a.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration said a vintage B-17 aircraft that is registered out of Massachusetts crashed at the end of Runway 6 while attempting to land. Officials tell us the plane slid off the runway during landing.
The plane involved is a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft, according to the airport. Here is what we know about the plane.
Thirteen people were onboard the plane, according to Windsor Locks First Selectman Chris Kervick. At least six people are injured.
According to our pilot a plane crash on the runway in Hartford has closed the airport and has everyone scrambling. pic.twitter.com/khAGbq50z5
— Aaron Katzman (@aaron_katzman) October 2, 2019
Emergency crews remain at the scene and there is an active fire at the airport, the airport added. At least six patients were taken to Hartford Hospital, including one via Lifestar and five by ambulance, the hospital said. We’re awaiting a press conference from the hospital, which is a Level 1 trauma center and has mobilized a trauma team.
Hartford Hospital says family members can call (860) 972-9166 for information on patients injured in the plane crash at Bradley Airport. They can also report to Taylor Conference Room at Hartford Hospital’s cancer center.
Bradley International Airport is currently closed and officials said they expect it to remain closed until at least 1 p.m. Traffic is being diverted to TF Green Airport in Rhode Island.
Gov. Ned Lamont posted a statement on Twitter and said “Several of our state agencies, including @CT_STATE_POLICE and @CTDEEPNews, remain on scene responding to the accident at @Bradley_Airport. Such an unfortunate situation with an historic aircraft. Our prayers are with everyone who was on board.”
We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft this morning at Bradley Airport. We have an active fire and rescue operation underway. The airport is closed. We will issue further updates as information becomes available.
— Bradley Intl Airport (@Bradley_Airport) October 2, 2019
The plane was at BDL airport for the “Wings of Freedom Tour” sponsored by the Collings Foundation. It is registed out of Stow, Mass. The B-17 bomber was known at one point as the “Flying Fortress” or the 909.
The plane is a civilian registered aircraft and is not flown by the military, the FAA added.
The Collings Foundation released a statement about the crash on Wednesday morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were on that flight and we will be forever grateful to the heroic efforts of the first responders at Bradley,” the foundation said.
“The Collings Foundation flight team is fully cooperating with officials to determine the cause of the crash of the B-17 Flying Fortress and will comment further when details become known,” foundation officials added.
Delores Brookman was standing outside of her home when the plane flew over right before the crash. She recalled the moment she found out what happened.
“I was ready to go in the house and I heard this plane go over and I came back out. I said ‘oh my God Cheryl, look up there, that is beautiful’ because it was flying just over the top of those trees. And then we heard a clicking noise and didn’t think anymore about it so we went in doing what we were supposed to do. Then Kevin called and told us the plane had crashed. I said ‘oh my God. That broke my heart,” said Brookman.
“Devastated, devastated. It can never be replaced and it was something that shouldn’t have happened, but it did,” She added.
According to NTSB Aviation Accident Data, the same place was involved in a crash on Aug. 23, 1987 in Beaver Falls, Penn. In that incident, one serious injury was reported and two minor injuries occurred. The damage to the aircraft at the time was determined to be “substantial.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal released a statement: “Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the victims. They and the public deserve to know the facts and causes of this tragic crash. I am calling for an immediate National Transportation Safety Board investigation so we can get to the bottom of what happened and prevent future tragedies. The NTSB should be on the scene as soon as possible, with assistance from other agencies like the FAA.”
Connecticut State Police said any immediate family members looking for information on the plane crash can call the CSP Message Center at 860-685-8190.
This is a developing story. NBC Connecticut will update this story as details become available.