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Kansas Congressman Says Boeing Plans To Move Refueling Tanker

Mike Pompeo represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Courtesty of the U.S. House of Representatives
Mike Pompeo represents Kansas' 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo said Boeing has no intention of completing its Air Force tanker work in Wichita.

Pompeo made the remarks during a news conference in Wichita yesterday.

The airplane manufacturer originally said it planned to use its Wichita facility as the finishing center for the tanker, but Pompeo says he was told differently by a Boeing official.

"We now know that Boeing intends to walk away from that promise," said Pompeo.

Pompeo added that will cost the Wichita-area more than 2,000 aviation jobs.

Boeing was awarded the contract to build the Air Force tanker in February. As a result, Kansas officials had expected the company to bring thousands of jobs to its Wichita plant.

Boeing officials say they are still reviewing their options and won't comment on the future of the Wichita plant until late this year at the earliest.

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