text: Seaton caught pneumonia Christmas Day in 1968 and Henry Hathaway took over directing while Seaton recovered, directing all of the exteriors; despite shooting for five weeks, Hathaway elected for no payment.
  The expensive set built representing the full interior of the 707 was left standing at Universal Studios, and was eventually joined with a more expensive airliner set, the front half of a 747-interior constructed in 1974 for Airport 1975.  These two sets became known as "Stage 747" on the lot, and both sets were used extensively in other Universal films and television series. The 707 set was used, for instance, in The Andromeda Strain and on series like Ironside. The sets were amortized over these many productions, and later removed around 2002 and the space converted into a workshop.
  Only one Boeing 707 was used: a model 707-349C (registration ) leased from Flying Tiger Line. It sported an El Al cheatline over its bare metal finish, with the fictional Trans Global Airlines (TGA) titles and tail. This aircraft later crashed on March 21, 1989 during approach into São Paulo while in service as cargo flight Transbrasil Flight 801, killing all three crew members and 22 people on the ground.
  Release
  Airport was released on March 5, 1970 at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
  Reception