Dramatic audio captures moments before World War II bomber crash

Dramatic new audio captures the crew of a World War II-era plane requesting to land in Connecticut Wednesday just moments before it crashed — and first responders then scrambling to the wreckage site.

The four-engine Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress had only gotten about eight miles away from the Bradley International Airport when crew members radioed in to air traffic control asking to “return to the field,” according to sources and a recording of the exchange.

“What’s the reason for coming back?” the controller asks.

The response is garbled but a crewmember can be heard saying: “number four engine … we’d like to return …”

The controller directs the aircraft to Runway 6, asking, “You said you need immediate landing?”

“When you get a chance, yeah,” the crewmember responds.

The controller asks: “How’s your progress to Runway 6?”

Then, an emergency vehicle can be heard radioing that the airport “is closed at this time.”

“All respond vehicles, no matter where you are, proceed to the crash via the quickest way available,” the controller instructs.

“All responding vehicles, head to the crash site. Quickest way possible.”

An unknown person on another plane can be heard asking: “Is that one of the vintage aircraft over there?”

“Yeah, it crashed,” someone responds.

“Damn,” the first person says.

Officials said the plane — which was carrying 10 passengers and three crew members — crashed into an airport building as it was trying to make an emergency landing.

At least seven people were killed and seven were injured, officials said.

The bomber was owned by the Collings Foundation, a group that hosts regular historical re-enactments. It was taking part in the group’s “Wings of Freedom” aircraft display.