Air China has cancelled a Beijing-bound flight after a Boeing 747-8 was caught up in a refuelling incident at New York JFK, leaving the long-haul aircraft standing in a large fuel puddle on the apron. The aircraft, registered B-2486 and preparing to operate CA982, suffered damage to its refuelling connection when a fuel truck moved away while hoses were still attached. No injuries were reported.
The jet remained at JFK for inspection and likely repairs, disrupting a scheduled passenger service on one of Air China’s key intercontinental routes. The incident underlines the risks involved in ground handling and aircraft refuelling at a major international hub, where a single equipment or procedural failure can quickly take a widebody aircraft out of service.
The exact extent of the damage has not been confirmed publicly, and no repair timeline has been disclosed. Air China has not commented on the incident in the coverage available, leaving the technical assessment and return-to-service schedule unclear.