James Rovella, a state disaster emergency official, told a news conference that there had been fatalities but that it was too early to say how many people had died. The Hartford Courant, a local newspaper, reported that at least five people had died and nine were seriously injured in the accident, citing sources.
A spokeswoman for the Connecticut State Police told AFP that 14 people had been involved in the accident, including ten passengers, three crew and a person on the ground. "We received six patients, three of which were critical. We have no more information at this time," a spokesman for Hartford Hospital, situated 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the airport, told AFP.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff. According to excerpts of a cockpit conversation reported by several media, the pilot had asked the control tower for permission to land urgently because of an engine problem.