Two of the victims from Wednesday's fatal plane crash at Bradley International Airport are from Western Massachusetts. David Broderick of West Springfield and Jim Roberts of Ludlow were two of the seven people killed in the World War Two-era bomber plane wreck. Family say Roberts was originally scheduled to take a later flight on the B-17 Flying Fortress, but changed his appointment to take an earlier plane. One of the injured people who was on the flight was reportedly from South Hadley.
Investigators are looking into whether the plane that crashed at Bradley Airport this week had engine trouble prior to takeoff. The World War Two era B-17 bomber crashed while trying to make an emergency landing on Wednesday. The National Transportation Safety Board reportedly learned of the pre-flight engine issue from passengers. They are also looking into the fitness of the pilots, both of whom were in their 70s and died in the crash.
Plans are not changing to have a B-17 bomber fly passengers out of Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield next weekend. This, despite the fact that a B-17 was just involved in a deadly crash at Bradley Airport. The Barnes Airport manager tells WWLP-TV he expects a large turnout to view the plane or possibly pay for a flight, and says there's no question about passenger safety.
(Photo Credit: NTSB Newsroom/Twitter)