[Updated] Collings Foundation B-17G Crashes at Bradley International in Connecticut, 5 killed.

Image of the fully restored B-17G, US ArmyAirForce (USAAF) s/n 44-83575, by the Collings Foundation. Carries US registration N93012. At Roberts Field (RDM), Redmond, Oregon, one of many cities visited during the 2004 Wings of Freedom Tour. When on tour the aircraft is on display and provides rides over the visited area. Pictured here during engine start prior to a tour. Painted to represent another B-17, USAAF s/n 42-31909, which successfully flew many combat missions during WW II. In the boxes you can see screenshots from Oct. 2 crash site. (Image credit: Tequask/Wiki/Twitter)

Injuries Reported, B-17G “Nine-O-Nine” Was One of Only 10 Flying B-17s.

Read the latest update on this incident here.

The WWII era B-17G Flying Fortress named “Nine-O-Nine” has crashed at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut at approximately 10:00 AM local time on Wednesday. Six injuries are being reported from the accident as photos of smoke rising from the scene are appearing in news and social media.

The condition of the six persons reported as injured in the crash has not been specified yet, although reports suggest four persons are hospitalized.

The aircraft involved in the crash was one of only ten remaining flyable Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. The aircraft wore civil registration number N93012 and the restored military registration aircraft 42-31909. The aircraft was originally built as military registration 44-83575.

A report by CBS Boston included a statement from Bradley International Airport that said, “We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft this morning at Bradley Airport,” the airport tweeted. “We have an active fire and rescue operation underway.”

The CBS Boston report went on to say, “The FAA said a vintage Boeing B-17 crashed while trying to land on a runway at about 10 a.m. The agency added that it is a civilian aircraft, not flown by the military. Four people are being treated at Hartford Hospital, but the full extent of injuries was not known.”

The Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress was a four-engine, heavy bomber built from 1936 until 1945. It achieved notoriety for its role in the heavy bombing campaign over Europe during WWII but was used in all theaters of the war. The aircraft was popularized in the media in television series such as “Twelve O’Clock High”, movies like “The Memphis Belle” and numerous books about the bombing campaign over Europe in WWII. Although more Consolidated B-24 Liberators were built than Boeing B-17s during WWII, the B-17 has garnered greater notoriety as a symbol of the U.S. bombing campaigns in WWII.

Update Oct. 2, 2019, 21.00GMT

Five people are confirmed killed in the incident.



About Tom Demerly
Tom Demerly is a feature writer, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles that are published around the world on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside magazine, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russia’s government media outlet Sputnik, and many other publications. Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. His military experience includes being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company “F”, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). Demerly is an experienced parachutist, holds advanced SCUBA certifications, has climbed the highest mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown several types of light aircraft.