OREANDA-NEWS. CNN channel reported that B-17, the bomber of the Second World War period, crashed near Bradley international airport in Connecticut, USA.

The incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. The bomber crashed when the pilot tried to land it on the runway. According to NBC television network, at least six people were injured. There is no word yet on possible fatalities.

A video published by an NBC journalist shows puffs of black smoke and fire at the crash site.

The Bradley airport press service said on its Twitter page that the airport was closed because of the incident, and a fire-fighting and rescue operation is continuing on its territory. It is also mentioned that the crashed bomber belongs to the Collings Foundation, a non-governmental organization which deals with vintage aircraft and cars.

According to CNN, the aircraft was supposed to be one of the exhibits held at the airport’s military aviation exhibition “Wings of Freedom Tour”.

The B-17, also known as the Flying Fortress, was developed in the 1930s by the American company Boeing.  In total, more than 12.7 thousand such aircrafts of various modifications were built. Their operation continued until the end of the war in 1945. The Flying Fortress became symbolic in the United States of that country’s air power.

Collings Foundation is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1979 in Massachusetts. It is engaged in the preservation of aircraft and automobile models that played a significant role in history.