Contaminated fuel in Namibia forces flight diversions to Angola

International passenger flights traveling from Namibia to Europe are being diverted to Luanda, Angola, for refueling due to a temporary jet fuel shortage in Namibia. The shortage was triggered after a consignment of Jet A-1 aviation fuel failed routine testing at Walvis Bay.

Discover Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, reported that flights from Windhoek to Frankfurt and Munich will now include a technical stopover at Luanda International Airport. During these stops, passengers remain on board the aircraft for security and operational reasons. One flight from Windhoek to Frankfurt experienced a 90-minute delay as a result of the diversion.

Vivo Energy Namibia confirmed that the contaminated fuel was quarantined and isolated, stating that it was never introduced into the aviation supply chain or provided to customers. The company is currently investigating the cause of the contamination and sourcing alternative supplies. Lufthansa Group has stated that the shortage is a local and temporary situation and that passengers missing connecting flights due to these delays will be automatically rebooked.