Air traffic - Civilian cargo plane dumps 50 tons of kerosene
A civil cargo plane released approximately 50 metric tons of kerosene over parts of the Palatinate and Saarland. A Boeing 747-4R7F reported damage to an engine during takeoff in Luxembourg and returned, according to the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) on Thursday in response to an inquiry. For safety reasons, 50 metric tons of fuel were released at an altitude of 4.3 to 5.5 kilometers during the incident on Wednesday. "Die Rheinpfalz" had previously reported on the matter.
Aircraft release fuel in emergency situations to land with less weight. In the southern Rhineland-Palatinate, "Fuel Dumping" is a common topic. For instance, such incidents occur relatively frequently in this federal state due to its proximity to the Frankfurt Airport.
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- The environmental impact of the cargo plane's fuel release in the Palatinate and Saarland is currently being assessed by environmental agencies.
- DFS has strict guidelines for fuel dumping in emergency situations to minimize harm to the environment and protect air traffic.
- On Thursday, a cargo plane en route to Saarland experienced engine trouble, requiring an emergency fuel dump over Rhineland-Palatinate, as confirmed by DFS.
- The incident brought back memories of a similar event in Ludwigshafen, where a Boeing 747 also had to release kerosene during an emergency landing.
- The governor of Saarland has called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the Boeing 747's engine failure and the subsequent fuel release during landing.
- The Luxembourg authorities are working closely with DFS and Saarland officials to ensure all safety protocols were followed during the cargo plane's emergency landing and fuel release.
