U.S. Navy engineers said the EP-3 could be repaired in 8–12 months,[33] but China refused to allow it to be flown off Hainan island. The disassembled aircraft was released on July 3, 2001, and was returned to the United States by the Russian airline Polet in two Antonov An-124 Ruslans.[34][35] The repairs took place at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Georgia, for reassembly and to make it flightworthy again. The aircraft was then flown to L3 in Waco, Texas, for missionization as they were the main provider of EP-3 maintenance and modernization at the time.[36] The aircraft returned to duty prior to 2013.[37]