[r_barton]

Doh!

[BraveMan]

"A passenger interviewed by the Rapid City Journal said she and her fellow passengers waited about 2½ hours in the plane at Ellsworth, where they were ordered to pull down their window shades as military personnel walked through the cabin with at least one firearm and a dog."

I hope they at least reopened the drink cart! I'd be cleaning them out of Jack Daniels in salutation of my unanticipated visit to Ellsworth. Talk about in-flight entertainment!

[dfwgator]

Don’t
Even
Land at
The right
Airport

[bgill]

We let anyone and everyone land on our military bases. Our enemies are taking note. Next time it won’t be an innocent mistake.

[Azeem]

This is not uncommon. Pilots confuse Tuscon and Davis-Monthan airfields.

[JimRed]

OOPS!

[exit82]

Mistakes were made.

But, what was the intent of the pilots? /s

[Moonman62]

Here’s the Air Force repositioning its C17 after it mistakenly landed at a small airport in Tampa a few years ago. A general on board stuck up for the pilots. They’d been on a long flight and apparently felt some pressure to get the flight completed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6g91O-jaT4

[PAR35]

It wasn’t even dark yet. Looks like they are about 10 miles apart.

[r_barton]

In Nov 2013 a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter cargo plane (special 747 cargo plane built by Boeing to fly large aircraft assemblies, wings etc, from Boeing factory to Boeing factory) landed at the wrong airport.

Boeing 747 LCF N780BA lands at Jabara Airport instead of McConnell AFB. Operated by Atlas Air. Aircraft takes off from 6100 foot runway without incident. Headed for original destination.

Boeing 747 Dreamlifter Cargo Plane Lands Wrong Airport At Tiny Airport
https://youtu.be/EcIe-0vYleQ

Boeing 747 LCF Dreamlifter takeoff from wrong airport! N780BA Short Runway
https://youtu.be/S1Kc3KAorsg

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ellsworth+Air+Force+Base/@44.0977914,-103.0842647,25853m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x877d66a25e5e299b:0x1d152d2e257c1a11!8m2!3d44.1538145!4d-103.0901656

Ellesworth AFB is a much more inviting landing strip.

[catnipman]

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. Delta Airlines Corporation has graciously permitted me to fly you to the correct airport at no extra charge. As we take off, those of you on the starboard side of the airplane can see our destination airport a couple of miles to the east. Should you become thirsty on our short flight, water, as always, is $5.00 per bottle. Enjoy your free flight, courtesy of Delta Airlines Corporation. That is all.”

[r_barton]

In the San Francisco bay area if you listen to air traffic control, private pilots frequently line up on Moffett Field (an old Naval Air Station) instead of San Jose International (SJC) and have to be warned off by air traffic control. They are only about 7 miles from one another.

[Gay State Conservative]

Doesn't Ellsworth control some of the nuke silos in the Upper Midwest? If so one could see how it would be considered very sensitive,security-wise.

[AlaskaErik]

I really don’t get it. Even the GPS in my little Citabria has a line from point A to point B. When the line ends, I’m at point B. It’s just like the GPS in your car, only the routing lines are straight and Betty doesn’t tell me I’ve arrived at my destination.

[Doogle]

"....how bout 10 ft high blinking letters saying "Rapid City that-a-away"....and of course in the PC Spanish smaller type....and since...what about a Tap Dancing Hyena cartoon like giant gif. On a giant screen pointing towards Rapid City for the occasional gay pilot"

[r_barton]

Current U.S. nuclear forces (Wikipedia)

Minuteman III ICBMs - 431
Trident II SLBMs - 230
B-2 bombers - 12
B-52H bombers - 68

[deport]

These runways were what, 3 or 4 miles apart so someone
wasn’t paying attention to what they were doing.

[silverleaf]

At least he got the right state

and landed

pilot brain farts can be deadly

[NonValueAdded]

It’s OK, they didn’t INTEND to land at Ellsworth.

Love, Jimmy Comey

[blackdog]

Very easy to do when cleared for a visual approach instead of the ILS/. I have done it at night at Norfolk and Newburgh.