WWII-era Plane Crashes at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, Multiple Injuries Reported

Multiple injuries have been reported after a vintage World War II plane crashed and burst into flames at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, on Wednesday morning.

WFSB reported that six patients had been rushed to Hartford Hospital as a result of the incident, according to a spokesperson for the medical center.

"We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft this morning at Bradley Airport," a statement issued by the airport read. "We have an active fire and rescue operation underway. The airport is closed. We will issue further updates as information becomes available."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also released a statement confirming that a vintage Boeing-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber crashed at the end of Runway 6 while attempting to land at the airport at around 10 a.m.

"It is a civilian registered aircraft, not flown by the military," the statement read. "Local officials will release information about the people aboard. Officials have closed Bradley International Airport, and the FAA has put in a ground stop for flights that are destined for the airport."

There has been no official announcement on if there have been any deaths so far, but the Hartford Courant reported that at least two people have died, according to its sources. This has not yet been confirmed.

Eyewitness Laura Nolan said she was driving east on route 20 when she noticed the plane flying unusually low before it crashed.

"He was treetop level when I saw him," Nolan told the Courant. "And one of the engines wasn't spinning. I saw the smoke in the rearview mirror. The smoke was dark black."

Various medical teams and fire departments from around the area arrived at the scene soon after the incident.

"The amount of people that were flooding in here was ridiculous," Nolan said.

The Collings Foundation which owns the plane said that its "thoughts and prayers" were with those on the flight.

"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."

The B-17 is one of five vintage World War II planes which were conducting flights at the airport this week to honor veterans as part of a Wings of Freedom tour.

The four-engined bomber, developed for the United States Army Air Corps, played an important role in the European battlefield.