US bomber crashed, 2 pilots among 7 killed

The plane carrying 13 people crashed and burned after experiencing mechanical trouble on takeoff from Bradley International Airport.

Connecticut: A pilot with more than 7,000 hours of experience flying a B-17 and his co-pilot were among seven people killed when the bomber crashed and burned at a Connecticut airport.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, pilot Ernest McCauley of Long Beach, California had flown for over 20 years with the educational group that owned the World War II-era plane and was also its safety officer.

The plane carrying 13 people crashed and burned after experiencing mechanical trouble on takeoff on Wednesday from Bradley International Airport.

Five passengers were killed along with McCauley and the co-pilot Michael Foster of Jacksonville, Florida, authority confirmed.

Investigators have begun securing evidence including the engine in which the pilot had reported a problem, a member of NTSB said.

As part of the investigation, they also will look into witness reports that work was being done on one or two of the engines before takeoff, official added.

As reported, the plane had last been through a major inspection in January 2019.