A Boeing 717-200 operated by Delta Air Lines enroute from Charlotte to Detroit had to return to Charlotte shortly after departure due to a fuel leak last week. The incident was caught on video and posted to social media, which now has more than 40,000 views.The aircraft was airborne for about 10 minutes before it landed and underwent inspection. Delta said the affected passengers were rebooked on other flights.
Details of the incident
N925AT is a 22-year-old 717-200. The aircraft was operating Delta Air Lines flight 2481 (DL2481) from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on Tuesday, March 14th. According to the Aviation Herald, the plane had departed from runway 36C when air traffic controllers observed a fuel loss from the aircraft.
During its climb, massive amounts of fuel were released from the right wing. At 4,000 feet, pilots reportedly stopped the climb and circled the plane around to return to Charlotte on runway 36L. Air traffic control also canceled all other approach clearances to runway 36L as a precaution. The 717 landed safely about 10 minutes after departure.
Video footage posted on Twitter captures the incident.
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Delta's response
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Atlanta-based carrier said safety is always a priority.
“We apologize to our customers on Delta flight 2481 from Charlotte to Detroit that returned to Charlotte shortly after departure following a reported aircraft fuel system issue. The aircraft landed and taxied to the gate under its own power, where it underwent inspection. Customers were reaccommodated on alternate flights out of Charlotte to most quickly get everyone on their way to their respective destinations. Safety, as always, remains Delta's top priority.”
A passenger onboard the flight recounted the incident, according to Aeroflap.
"I was sitting on the wing seat of the plane and looked to the right. That thing was spewing gas from the wing like a fire hydrant. I'm not an expert on this, but I thought something wasn't right," the passenger said.
Another passenger seated on the left side explained their experience on social media.
"I was on the left hand side of the plane," the traveler wrote on Twitter. "We had no clue it was that severe."
The issue did not seem to be a major concern or anything that would ground the aircraft for a prolonged period. N925AT returned to service the following day, operating as DL2353 to Detroit, and has since performed more than 20 legs.
Another similar incident
This is not the first time a Delta 717 has suffered a fuel leak inflight. In August 2019, N989AT was flying from Houston Hobby to Atlanta when it had to divert to Montgomery, AL, due to suspicions of a fuel leak.
As previously reported by Simple Flying, if a fuel leak occurs inflight, flight crews usually can stop it. But on the 717, that is not the case, unfortunately, as the aircraft is not fitted with a dump valve. Instead, the plane is equipped with a fuel vent system that prevents fuel from spilling during ground and flight operations. Before takeoff, ground crews must close the vent to keep the fuel inside.
Source: Aviation Herald, Aeroflap