Contractors on runway before accidental landing Published June 22, 2004 ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFPN) -- Three contracted painters were working on the runway here just before the landing of Northwest Airlines Flight 1152 on June 19.The runway was closed when the Northwest pilots mistook the base airfield for the Rapid City Regional Airport runway located six nautical miles south of the base.“The contractors spotted the plane coming in about two minutes out from the base,” said Maj. Randall Looke, 28th Contracting Squadron commander. “They knew that the runway was closed, but when they determined that the plane may actually land on the base, they quickly moved out of harm’s way.”No one was injured during the landing.Airmen from the 28th Security Forces Squadron immediately responded to the scene when the aircraft landed. The aircraft was contained and monitored until both base and Northwest officials were ready to send the aircraft to its original destination at the regional airport. The plane left the base at about 3:20 p.m.Security forces on scene asked the Northwest crew to have passengers lower their blinds as a security measure to protect the base while awaiting the plane’s clearance for takeoff.Base officials are assisting the Transportation Security Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration with their investigations of the incident.