reporter: minutes after takeoff, a deadly and fiery crash. the black smoke visible for miles. there is a fire at one of the runways over here. reporter: a b-17 world war ii era bomber, part of a vintage plane exhibition offering flights to the public, crashed and slid off the runway striking a maintenance building three crew and ten passengers aboard. i was worried it was a passenger flight i had no idea. i saw this thick, black smoke. i was like something happened here, there is a fire or something. reporter: the crash so intense, rescuers struggled to idfy war planes brought it to connecticut this week for an exhibition in a statement saying our thoughts and prayere the heroic efforts of the first responders the b-17 nicknamed the flying fortress featured in the film memphis belle. this plane took off at 9:45 a.m. five minutes later, the pilot told the tower he wasn t gaining