Boeing 747 Dreamlifter lands at wrong airport in Kansas

Mike Gallagher

Nov 21, 2013 - 08:55

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Boeing 747 Dreamlifter lands at wrong airport in Kansas

A Boeing 747 Dreamlifter sits on the runway after accidentally landing at Jabara airport in Wichita, Kansas, instead of at McConnell Air Force Base. Source: AP

A 747 jumbo jet used to haul parts for construction of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner jet has landed at the wrong airport in Kansas.

The plane maker says the Dreamlifter landed safely on Wednesday evening at Colonel James Jabara Airport, several kilometres from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita where it was supposed to land.

Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said the Dreamlifter was bound for McConnell because it is adjacent to Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier for the Dreamliner.

Mr Birtel did not say why or how the plane landed at the wrong airport.

Although Jabara airport has a small runway, Roger Xanders, chief of the Wichita Airport Authority's police and fire department, told KMBC-TV that the plane will be able to take off later today.

Spirit makes the forward section or nose area of the jet's fuselage. Boeing uses four modified 747s to haul parts for the new plane's construction.