Delta flight mistakenly lands at air force base in South Dakota

Flight 2845 left Minneapolis and landed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, which is located about 10 miles north of the intended destination, Rapid City Regional Airport in Rapid City, S.D.

After the incident, Delta’s Airbus A320 spent a few hours at Ellsworth before taking off and heading to the nearby airport of Rapid City.

– A Delta plane that took off from Minneapolis-St.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said he had no immediate details to release beyond those offered by Delta. The airline has already started its own internal review. “The aircraft instead touched down at Ellsworth Air Force Base, shortly before 7:45 p.m. local time”.

Passengers were allowed to use their phones to reassure family members who got anxious when the plane did not arrive in Rapid City on time.

After landing at Ellsworth, passengers were ordered to keep their window shades down and military personnel walked through the cabin while the airplane was at the base.

The aircraft eventually departed and made it to Rapid City Regional Airport later that night.

The Air Force said in a statement that its base officials “followed the proper procedures to address the situation” ensuring everybody’s safety.

Rapid City Regional Airport Public Information Officer Toni Broom told ABC News “It’s an airline issue and it’s being handled by Delta”. Paul International Airport mistakenly landed at the wrong airport in South Dakota, according to a statement from the company.

“Incidents like this occur when pilots fail to execute the basic measures of airmanship”.

Incidentally, this is not the first time an incident of similar nature has happened in the area. That plane was also headed towards the Rapid City Regional Airport.