- A vintage B-17 bomber plane crashed at Bradley Airport in Hartford, Connecticut.
- At least two have died in the crash, sources told the Hartford Courant.
- Hartford Hospital has received six patients from the plane crash, a press representative told Business Insider.
- It’s unknown how many passengers were on the crashed plane.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
A vintage B-17 bomber plane crashed at Bradley Airport in Hartford, Connecticut shortly before 10 a.m., multiple outlets have reported.
Hartford Hospital has received six patients from the plane crash, a Hartford Hospital press representative told Business Insider. The hospital was not able to provide information on their conditions. Family members of those in the plane have been told to contact the Hartford Hospital at 860-972-9166.
It’s unknown how many passengers were on the crashed plane. Sources told the Hartford Courant that at least two have died in the crash.
This is an aerial view of the plane crash at Bradley Airport. So far, we know six patients are at Hartford Hospital after a B-17 WWII bomber went down. @WTNH pic.twitter.com/zOaWHjWgoh
— Stephanie Simoni (@StephanieSimoni) October 2, 2019
Bradley Airport said in a tweet that there is an active fire and rescue operation underway, and the airport is closed. Since 10 a.m., flights departing from Bradley have been delayed or canceled, according to Flight View.
"A vintage Boeing B-17 crashed at the end of Runway 6 while attempting to land at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., at 10 a.m.,'' reads a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. "It is a civilian registered aircraft, not flown by the military."
Officials from Bradley Airport did not immediately respond to several phone calls from Business Insider for comment or confirmation. Officials from Hartford Hospital were also not available for comment.
The Collings Foundation, which is a nonprofit dedicated to aviation history, owns the crashed B-17 plane. The Hartford Courant reported that Collings brought two World War II fighter planes and three bombers to Bradley Airport on Sept. 30, intending to have the planes available for tours and flights through Oct. 3.
The crashed plane is called the B-17 Flying Fortress, and is one of more than 12,000 built leading up to World War II. Only a few remain today, according to Boeing.
Some WWII veterans credit the Flying Fortress with their life - and the Americans' ability to triumph in the massive conflict. Gen. Carl Spaatz, the American air commander in Europe, once said, "Without the B-17 we may have lost the war."
Firetrucks were seen swarming the site of the fiery crash.
Family members looking for information about victims in the B-17 crash may call the Hartford Hospital at 860-972-9166.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.