Air China Boeing 747-8 damaged during refueling at JFK Airport

An Air China Boeing 747-8 experienced damage and a significant fuel leak during refueling at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on August 31. The incident occurred when a fuel tanker moved unexpectedly while two refueling hoses were still connected to the aircraft’s wing.

The sudden movement caused the hoses to be torn from the aircraft's fuel ports, resulting in fuel spilling onto the apron. Airport fire crews responded to the leak, and ground staff used dry powder to clean the area. No injuries were reported during the incident.

Air China confirmed that the “abnormal movement” of the refueling vehicle caused damage to aircraft components, leading to the cancellation of flight CA982, which was scheduled to depart for Beijing. The airline has activated its international flight contingency plans to assist affected passengers, and the aircraft has been withdrawn for technical inspection.