A shocking video shows the moment an airport worker drove off while fuel hoses were reportedly still attached to a jumbo jet, causing a huge leak across the tarmac.
Dramatic footage appeared to show the refuelling truck moving away from an Air China Boeing 747-8 as it was being prepared for take-off.
Moments later, liquid began gushing from beneath the aircraft’s wing and spreading across the ground.
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The worker stopped the truck nearby before climbing out of the cab and approaching the plane, as reported by Need To Know.
Another member of staff could then be walking towards the aircraft while the fuel continued to pour from its refuelling ports.
A video on X showed the alarming incident at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.
The aircraft had been preparing to operate Air China flight CA982 from the US city to Beijing, China.
Air China later confirmed that a refuelling vehicle had “moved abnormally” during ground operations.
The airline said aircraft components were damaged, preventing the flight from operating as scheduled.
The service was cancelled and contingency arrangements were reportedly made for affected passengers.
No injuries were reported in or around the aircraft.
Reports claimed two hoses had remained connected when the truck moved, ripping them from their connections and damaging the plane’s fuel ports.
The aircraft involved was an 11-year-old Boeing 747-8 registered B-2486.
The mishap happened during the early hours of 31 August while the plane was parked at the gate ahead of its scheduled 2.05am departure.
The Boeing had landed at JFK from Beijing shortly before 10pm the previous evening.
It remained on the ground while the damage was inspected but has subsequently returned to service.
Flight-tracking records show B-2486 has since operated several passenger services, including a flight from New York to Beijing on 25 September.
Air China has not publicly detailed the full extent of the damage or explained why the refuelling vehicle moved.
The footage left social media users stunned.
One joked: “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.”
A third simply described the scene as a “disaster”.
