Police Release Identities of 14 People Injured or Killed Due to Crash of Bradley Airport B-17 Bomber Plane

The identities of the 14 people injured or killed due to a crash of a B-17 bomber plane, as well as a lengthy list of first responders, is being released today as authorities continue to respond to and investigate this tragic aviation accident.

The plane crashed as it attempted to return to Bradley International Airport minutes after its 9:45 a.m. takeoff on October 2, 2019. Seven people aboard the plane were killed while six on the plane and one on the ground were injured.

Crew

Ernest McCauley (Pilot) 75 Long Beach, CA  Presumed Deceased
Michael Foster (Co-Pilot) 71 Jacksonville, FL  Presumed Deceased
Mitchell Melton (Flight Engineer) 34 Dalehart, TX  Injured

Passengers

Andy Barrett 36 South Hadley, MA - Injured

Linda Schmidt 62 Suffield, CT - Injured

Tom Schmidt 62 Suffield, CT - Injured

Joseph Huber 48 Tariffville, CT - Injured

James Traficante 54 Simsbury, CT - Injured 

David Broderick 56 West Springfield, MA - Deceased

Gary Mazzone 66 Broad Brook, CT - Presumed Deceased

James Robe1is 48 Ludlow, MA - Presumed Deceased

Robert Riddell 59 East Granby, CT - Presumed Deceased

Robe1i Rubner 64 Tolland, CT - Presumed Deceased

Airport personnel:

Andrew Sullivan 28 Enfield, CT - Injured

"When unexpected casualty events occur in our state, we have a mutual aid agreement that begins immediately. Yesterday, a tragic event shocked and saddened all of us. Yet there was a true team effort to respond to the scene and to try to save as many lives as possible. This is a small state in which our first responders act as one for the best interest of their fellow citizens. They have my thanks, as well as the gratitude from Connecticut citizens," said James C. Rovella, Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

"This was a remarkable effort by all in demonstrating exceptional cooperation considering the logistics involved. As the investigation into the crash continues, we keep the families of those injured and killed in our thoughts and prayers," Commissioner Rovella added.

Officials from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection expressed their thanks to the following agencies:

First Responders were vital in this incident
Connecticut State Police, State Fire Training Academy, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland
Security, Connecticut Airport Authority, DEEP, Airport Operations, Windsor Locks Police Department, East Granby
Resident Trooper's Office
Federal Agencies
NTSB, FAA, TSA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, ATF

Hospitals which treated the injured:
. Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital

Fire departments which provided mutual aid support
Windsor Locks, Windsor, East Granby, Suffield, Blue Hills, Bloomfield, CT Air National Guard, Hazardville, Shaker
Pines, Thompsonville, North Thompsonville, Enfield, UCONN, Avon, Burlington, Canton, Farmington, Simsbury,
Rocky Hill, Willington, Berlin, Newington, Wethersfield , Cromwell and Hmtford

EMS providers who responded
Windsor Locks Lions Ambulance, Collins Aerospace, East Windsor, Windsor, Ambulance Service of
Manchester, American Medical Response, Granby, Windsor, and Life Star Helicopters.

Other
In addition, Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, the American Red Cross from Connecticut and
Massachusetts responded, as did Lockheed-Martin, the Bradley Air Traffic Control, State' s Attorney Inspectors, the
Sheraton Haitford at Bradley Airport

N
Submitted by New Milford, CT

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