An American Airlines jet pummeled in a hailstorm last month is back in the air Monday after undergoing extensive repairs in North Texas.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was headed to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on July 27 when its nose cone was heavily dented over China, and the pilots were able to return the plane to Beijing safely.
Along with the dented nose cone, several panels were replaced along with the cover for a landing light that was smashed by the storm.
The plane is one of nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the current American Airlines fleet, with four more still to be delivered this year.
Airline officials say the fuselage of the revolutionary aircraft, which is made of carbon fiber, was not damaged by the hail, and they are confident the plane is now as good as new.
The plane flew from D/FW to Chicago Monday morning with no problems. Mechanics there inspected the plane one more time before it was allowed to continue to Tokyo.
