MCO Monitoring Airport Weeks After Diverted Flight Dumps Fuel on Runway
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) employees are continuing to monitor one of its longest runways for damage as a result of a massive fuel spill that occurred in late June.
Last month, Norwegian Air flight DI7058, an Airbus A340 operated by Hi Fly, erroneously dumped a large amount of jet fuel on one of the airport’s runways following an unplanned diversion shortly after takeoff from MCO. The plane was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW) and had enough fuel on-board for the more than 4300-mile flight from Orlando to London.
Shortly after takeoff — roughly an hour into the flight — the crew reported issues with the aircraft’s hydraulics and turned back towards Orlando. With the aircraft having traveled just a few hundred miles, the aircraft was overweight and began the process of fuel jettison, more commonly referred to as fuel dumping.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the A340 dumped jet fuel on nearly 84% of the runway, covering 10,000 of the 12,000-foot runway — the equivalent “nearly of nine football fields.” The runway was closed for up to 12 hours following the incident.
While the airport began to clean up the spill shortly after the aircraft returned to Orlando, officials told the Sentinel that there is still the possibility that the runway may have been damaged during the incident. Now, the airport is reportedly monitoring the runway several times per day to check for damage as a result of the massive fuel spill.
Jet Fuel’s Effect on a Runway
Jet fuel is a term used to describe any fuel used to power jet or turbine-powered aircraft. The three most commonly used jet fuels are Jet A, Jet A-1 and Jet B. Jet A-1 is used at airports outside of the United States and Canada, while Jet B fuel is occasionally used in cold climates. The fuel found onboard was likely Jet A fuel.
Jet A fuel dispersed over concrete and asphalt, which according to the aeronautical navigation website AirNav is what the runway in question (runway 18R/36L) is made of, does not pose an immediate threat to the structural integrity of either material. However, over time, petroleum-based fuels have the capability of degrading both concrete and asphalt.
According to Asphalt Magazine, asphalt, which is a petroleum-based material, is especially susceptible to damage from fuel spills, as it can absorb fuel and begin to soften. The degradation of the asphalt can lead to further damage down the line.
Officials from the airport note that the jet fuel was not limited to the runway. The airport had to excavate and remove grass and soil that bordered the contaminated runway.
Jet fuel poses a health risk, in particular to respiratory health. To avoid environmental damage and injury to those on the ground, jet fuel is usually dumped over water or at higher altitudes away from major communities. It is unclear if surrounding areas and neighborhoods were impacted by the improper fuel jettison procedure.
According to the Sentinel, the airport was forced to use a 30-person crew to address the massive fuel spill, consisting of airport employees, employees from aviation fueling companies, and an emergency contractor. The fuel spill was cleaned up using powder and vacuum trucks. The airport intends to bill Norwegian Air and Hi Fly for the damage caused by the erroneous fuel dump.
Under Investigation
It is not clear why the pilots continued to dump fuel upon landing. In a statement to TPG, a spokesperson for Norwegian Air said the following:
“Since this incident occurred with Hi-Fly’s aircraft and pilots, I can only refer you to Hi-Fly. Or MCO for the airport-related questions. Norwegian is of course cooperating with both Hi-Fly and the airport in the ongoing investigation, but cannot comment on their behalf.”
Neither MCO nor Hi Fly returned TPG‘s request for comment at time of publication.
Norwegian Air has been using a wet-leased Airbus A340 from Hi Fly for the past few months as a result of on-going inspections with the airline’s own fleet of Boeing 787s. In the statement to TPG, Norwegian Air noted plans to reintroduce a Boeing 787 on flights between Orlando and London on October 27, 2019.
For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.