A World War II-era bomber plane that was in Laconia a week ago giving flying tours over Lake Winnipesaukee crashed in a fireball Wednesday morning as it tried to land in Connecticut with 13 people aboard. A state official said at least seven were killed.
Black smoke rose from the airport as emergency crews responded to the crash of the B-17 bomber at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., just north of Hartford. Six people on board were taken to Hartford Hospital, said hospital spokesman Shawn Mawhiney. The B-17 had been trying to land at about 10 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said on Twitter.
The bomber was making a tour of Northeast airports as part of the “Wings of Freedom” tour featuring four other World War II warplanes. It was flown by three crew members and often carried about eight passengers.
When it crashed in Connecticut, 13 people were in the aircraft, several were taken to the hospital, some died, officials said.
The plane came to Laconia Municipal Airport on Sept. 23 and stayed through Sept. 25. It arrived from Worcester, Mass. Laconia Airport Manager Marv Everson said the B-17 was late cause it had a mechanical problem after leaving Worcester and had to return to that airport.
“While it was here, it was fine,” said Everson, who was one of the people who rode in it as part of a flying tour. The trips lasted a good half-hour, he said.
Everson said the vintage planes attracted steady crowds while in Laconia, including people old enough to remember World War II, as well as youngsters. “Gilford High School brought most of the students over in the course of the time they were here,” he said.
The plane was owned by the Collings Foundation, an aviation group that put together the “Wings of Freedom” vintage aircraft tour. The planes were in Nashua airport last weekend before going to Connecticut.
“It was a privilege to get a ride on it; fascinating. It takes you back to World War II,” Everson said.
“This is one of these things that hits close to home … since it was just here, we had just touched it,” he added. Everson was speaking around noon, when most details of the crash were not available.
A second flying B-17 has been in New Hampshire. Owned by the EAA aviation organization, it was at Keene’s airport Wednesday, leaving authorities there to release information online assuring people that the accident did not happen to that plane.
There are reportedly nine B-17s still flying, owned by various civilian groups.
At the Connecticut airport, Antonio Arreguin told the Associated Press said he had parked at a construction site near the airport for breakfast when he heard an explosion. He said he did not see the plane but could feel the heat from the fire, which was about 250 yards away.
“In front of me, I see this big ball of orange fire, and I knew something happened,” he said. “The ball of fire was very big.”
A smaller explosion followed about a minute after the first blast, he said. He saw emergency crews scrambling within seconds.
The B-17 had been trying to land when it crashed around 10 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said on Twitter.
Brian Hamer, of Norton, Mass., told the Associated Press he was less than a mile away when he saw a B-17, “which you don’t normally see,” fly directly overhead, apparently trying to gain altitude but not succeeding.
One of the engines began to sputter, and smoke came out the back, Hamer said. The plane made a wide turn and headed back toward the airport, he said.
“Then we heard all the rumbling and the thunder, and all the smoke comes up and we kind of figured it wasn’t good,” Hamer said.
“This is kind of shocking; it’s a loss to lose a B-17,” he said. “I mean, there aren’t very many of those left.”