In the 1970s the airport became part of the new network of regional airports in Lofoten and Vesterålen with government subsidised operations using de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft seating 20 and operated by Widerøe. In 1969 the Albatrosses were replaced by P-3B Orion aircraft. The P-3B lacked the ability to work with the Norwegian Coast Guard, and in 1989 they were sold to the Spanish Air Force. They were replaced with new P-3C aircraft. Following the end of the Cold War in the 1990s the air station has been reduced. Accidents and incidents On February 1, 1982, a Lockheed SR-71, tail number 980, diverted to the airport. It stayed there four days before being flown out. On July 31, 1988, four people died when a private Cessna 172 aircraft crashed west of the airport just after takeoff. See also List of the largest airports in the Nordic countries References External links Air Force page on Andøya (in Norwegian) Airports in the Arctic Royal Norwegian Air Force stations Airports in Nordland Andøy 1954 establishments in Norway Airports established in 1954 Military installations in Nordland