The pilot who died along with six other people in the crash of a World War II-vintage B-17 aircraft in Connecticut was identified Wednesday as a Long Beach resident.
Ernest McCauley, 75, was the pilot of the 1944 aircraft that crashed Wednesday at Bradley International Airport, Connecticut state officials said.
We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft this morning at Bradley Airport. We have an active fire and rescue operation underway. The airport is closed. We will issue further updates as information becomes available.
— Bradley Intl Airport (@Bradley_Airport) October 2, 2019
Authorities said the plane experienced mechanical problems shortly after takeoff and was crashed while attempting to return to the airport for an emergency landing.
The plane’s co-pilot, 71-year-old Michael Foster of Jacksonville, Florida, was also killed. A third crew member, 34-year-old Mitchell Melton of Dalhart, Texas, survived the crash and resulting inferno.
Five of the 10 passengers also died in the crash. All of the passengers were from either Connecticut or Massachusetts.
