Moment airport worker causes huge leak after driving off with fuel hose still attached to jumbo jet
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By CAITLIN LENG
Published: | Updated:
This is the moment an airport worker caused a major fuel leak after driving off while refuelling a jumbo jet headed to China.
The shocking footage - taken at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York - shows a white refuelling truck moving away from an Air China Boeing 747-8 as it prepares to depart.
The truck, which Air China later confirmed 'moved abnormally' during ground operations, then moves under the aircraft's wing - causing a cascade of fuel to pour from within in and onto the tarmac, saturating the surrounding area.
The unknown worker then stops the truck nearby before climbing out and approaching the plane, while another member of staff walks toward the aircraft as fuel continues to pour from its ports.
No injuries were reported from the incident, which occurred during the early hours of August 31 while the plane was parked at the gate ahead of its scheduled 2.05am departure.
The service was cancelled and contingency arrangements were reportedly made for affected passengers, as Air China confirmed components were damaged that prevented the flight operating as scheduled.
Moments before the leak, a refuelling truck can be seen moving under the wing of an Air China Boeing 747-8 as it prepares to depart
Video footage shows the cascade of fuel begin to pour from within the plane and onto the tarmac, saturating the surrounding area
The flight, headed for Beijing, was cancelled following the incident due to damage to components
The flight, which was supposed to head to Beijing, had landed at JFK shortly before 10pm the previous evening. It remained on the ground while the damage was inspected but has subsequently returned to service.
Air China has not publicly detailed the full extent of the damage or explained why the refuelling vehicle moved. Reports claimed two hoses had remained connected when the truck moved, ripping them from their connections and damaging the plane's fuel ports.
Flight-tracking records show B-2486 has since operated several passenger services, including a flight from New York to Beijing on September 25.
Footage of the scene has left social media users bemused, with one joking: 'They're going to need a bigger bucket.'
Another said: 'There is going to be one hell of a safety brief for all tarmac workers after this,' while a third simply described the scene as a 'disaster'.
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