AURORA, Ill. — A World War II “Flying Fortress” bomber crashed and burned in a cornfield southeast of Aurora Municipal Airport today, but the seven people on board escaped without serious injury, officials say.

The B-17 took off from the airport at 9:30 a.m. Illinois time and went down about three or four miles from Aurora about 20 minutes later, said Elizabeth Isham Cory, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. “We believe the seven people on board escaped without injury.”

The pilot made an emergency landing in a cornfield in Oswego after reporting an engine fire, said Sugar Grove Fire Chief Marty Kunkle. Witnesses said he set the plane down between a tower and a line of trees.

The plane was headed to the Indianapolis Regional Airport and was due to arrive about noon, said Allisa Pipes, an airport spokeswoman. The plane was scheduled to give flights to the media today and was expected to offer flights to the public over the Father’s Day weekend, Pipes said.