Damaging Kansas Tornado Affects Aircraft Industry

Officials at Wichita’s Boeing and Hawker Beechcraft aircraft plants and at nearby parts maker Spirit AeroSystems are evaluating damage from the tornado that slammed the southeastern part of the Kanasa city.

No estimates of the destruction to the aircraft manufacturing hub from Saturday night’s tornado were available Monday. But analysts are already warning of a possible ripple effect on the industry. The hardest-hit company, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., has been talking daily with its customers.

The EF-3 tornado hit Wichita with winds of 136 to 165 mph. Sections of roofs were torn off and windows were blown out as the tornado first hit Spirit AeroSystems, then struck the nearby Boeing facility, McConnell Air Force Base and Hawker Beechcraft.