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Lots of Jet Fuel Dumped Over Jersey for Emergency Landing
By
John Del Signore
Published May 10, 2010
Modified May 10, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 10, 2010
Modified May 10, 2010
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Residents in the vicinity of Newark International Airport were complaining about the smell of gas Sunday afternoon after a Boeing 777 dumped 170,000 pounds of jet fuel into the air while preparing for an emergency landing. The plane, carrying 269 passengers bound for Tokyo, returned to the airport less than an hour after takeoff yesterday because of a "hydraulic problem." But before it could touch down, it needed to lighten up by emptying its fuel tanks over the Garden State.
"By ‘dumping,’ it does not come gushing out of the plane," an FAA spokesman tells NJ.com. "It comes out in a mist, which evaporates in the air." But residents of several Somerset County communities called the police because they were concerned about the odor. The DEP says they're going to "take a look" at the incident, but a spokesman insists "there is no known health risk or danger." One local tells WCBS, "I don't know, call me old-fashioned, but something about it makes me think it might not be too great for you."
Continental claims the plane "blew a tire" on take-off, and no one was injured during the emergency landing. One passenger, who fell asleep immediately after take off, says, "I wake up, everybody was clapping. What’s the plane doing? Landing—in New Jersey." Welcome back, and please excuse the smell.
Tagged
continental
emergency landing
fuel
new jersey
newark
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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