WWII-era bomber aircraft crashes near Chicago, no fatalities

WWII-era bomber aircraft crashes near Chicago, no fatalities

2011-06-13 23:15:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHICAGO (BNO NEWS) -- A World War II-era Boeing B-17 aircraft crashed close to an airport near Chicago on late Monday morning, federal officials said, but there were no reports of casualties.

The plane, which is also known as the 'Flying Fortress', is a four-engine aircraft which was used as a strategic bomber during World War II. They were quickly phased out of use after the war, although dozens which were captured during the war were later used by the Soviet Air Force.

The accident on Monday morning happened shortly after the B-17 aircraft took off from Aurora Municipal Airport, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Chicago. A total of seven people were on board.

Elizabeth Isham Cory, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said the accident happened just before 10 a.m. local time, about 3 to 4 miles (4.8 to 6.4 kilometers) southeast of Aurora airport. "No injuries [have been] reported to [the] FAA," Cory said.

Footage from the scene showed the aircraft was on fire and had broken into at least three parts. It was not immediately clear what caused the accident, which will be investigated by the FAA.

According to federal records, the B-17 aircraft was built in 1944 and was registered to Liberty Foundation, Inc., which allows people to experience flying in B-17 and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft. A schedule on its website said it provided 20-minute flights in the area around Aurora airport during the weekend.

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