<p>At least seven people were killed when a World War II bomber carrying 13 passengers and crew crashed at an airport in the northeastern US state of Connecticut Wednesday, local media reported.</p>.<p>The Boeing B-17 aircraft, which the US Air Force deployed against Germany and Japan, crashed at Bradley International Airport while trying to land around 10:00 am (1400 GMT).</p>.<p>Ten passengers and three crew were on the aircraft, which was operated by the Collings Foundation, a group catering to aviation buffs who pay to experience vintage planes, officials said.</p>.<p>James Rovella, a Connecticut state disaster emergency official, told a news conference that there had been fatalities but added it was too early to say the exact number.</p>.<p>"Burn victims are very difficult to identify. We don't want to make a mistake," he said.</p>.<p>A maintenance officer working on the ground was also injured, Rovella added.</p>.<p>Local media later cited officials as saying that the crash left at least seven dead and nine injured, including three people who were on the ground at the time.</p>.<p>Ten minutes after the flight took off at 9:45 am, the pilots radioed the control tower to say they were experiencing problems, said Kevin Dillon, director of the state's airport authority.</p>.<p>"We could see they could not gain altitude. Upon touchdown they obviously lost control, struck our de-icing facility here as well as a maintenance facility," he told reporters.</p>.<p>A spokesman for Hartford Hospital, situated 15 miles (25 kilometers) from the airport, told AFP the facility had received six patients, three of whom were critical.</p>.<p>It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.</p>.<p>According to excerpts of a cockpit conversation reported by several news outlets, the pilot had asked the control tower for permission to land urgently because of an engine problem.</p>.<p>Photos circulating on social media and carried by US media outlets showed a thick black plume of smoke billowing from the crash site.</p>.<p>Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said the plane was one of only 18 B-17s left in the country, and that the crash might have implications for the flying of vintage aircraft.</p>.<p>"If there were defects or improper maintenance as a cause, it is a very strong red flashing light for others who are flying these planes," he said.</p>.<p>The airport was closed for several hours before later reopening.</p>
<p>At least seven people were killed when a World War II bomber carrying 13 passengers and crew crashed at an airport in the northeastern US state of Connecticut Wednesday, local media reported.</p>.<p>The Boeing B-17 aircraft, which the US Air Force deployed against Germany and Japan, crashed at Bradley International Airport while trying to land around 10:00 am (1400 GMT).</p>.<p>Ten passengers and three crew were on the aircraft, which was operated by the Collings Foundation, a group catering to aviation buffs who pay to experience vintage planes, officials said.</p>.<p>James Rovella, a Connecticut state disaster emergency official, told a news conference that there had been fatalities but added it was too early to say the exact number.</p>.<p>"Burn victims are very difficult to identify. We don't want to make a mistake," he said.</p>.<p>A maintenance officer working on the ground was also injured, Rovella added.</p>.<p>Local media later cited officials as saying that the crash left at least seven dead and nine injured, including three people who were on the ground at the time.</p>.<p>Ten minutes after the flight took off at 9:45 am, the pilots radioed the control tower to say they were experiencing problems, said Kevin Dillon, director of the state's airport authority.</p>.<p>"We could see they could not gain altitude. Upon touchdown they obviously lost control, struck our de-icing facility here as well as a maintenance facility," he told reporters.</p>.<p>A spokesman for Hartford Hospital, situated 15 miles (25 kilometers) from the airport, told AFP the facility had received six patients, three of whom were critical.</p>.<p>It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.</p>.<p>According to excerpts of a cockpit conversation reported by several news outlets, the pilot had asked the control tower for permission to land urgently because of an engine problem.</p>.<p>Photos circulating on social media and carried by US media outlets showed a thick black plume of smoke billowing from the crash site.</p>.<p>Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said the plane was one of only 18 B-17s left in the country, and that the crash might have implications for the flying of vintage aircraft.</p>.<p>"If there were defects or improper maintenance as a cause, it is a very strong red flashing light for others who are flying these planes," he said.</p>.<p>The airport was closed for several hours before later reopening.</p>