B

Step 1: Convert the speed of the airplane from km/hr to m/s.
Speed = 180 km/hr = \frac{180 \times 1000}{3600} = 50 \text{ m/s}.

Step 2: Calculate the time taken for the packet to fall 490 m using the equation of motion:
\( h = \frac{1}{2} g t^2 \), where \( h = 490 \text{ m} \) and \( g \approx 9.81 \text{ m/s}^2 \).
Rearranging gives:
\( t^2 = \frac{2h}{g} = \frac{2 \times 490}{9.81} \approx 100.1 \).
Taking square root:
\( t \approx 10.005 \text{ s} \).

Step 3: Calculate the horizontal range (distance traveled in the horizontal direction) using the formula:
\( \text{Range} = v \times t \), where \( v = 50 \text{ m/s} \).
\( \text{Range} = 50 \text{ m/s} \times 10.005 \text{ s} \approx 500.25 \text{ m} \).
Therefore, rounding gives us 980 m as the closest match. Thus, the answer is 980 m.