Air China has issued a statement regarding an incident that occurred during ground refueling operations at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on August 31st. According to the announcement, the flight, designated CA982, experienced damage to specific aircraft components when the refueling truck moved in an abnormal manner, preventing the flight from proceeding as scheduled. Following the event, the airline immediately activated its international flight emergency response protocol to ensure passenger service was fully supported.

A video circulating on social media shows a fuel truck driving away while the fueling hoses were still attached, violently tearing two lines from the wing refueling port of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft. The incident resulted in significant fuel spillage across the tarmac. Reports indicate that the vehicle involved was operated by a third-party ground services provider at the airport. During the fueling process, the truck moved prematurely while the hoses remained connected to the aircraft, causing the fittings to snap and releasing a substantial amount of aviation fuel onto the ground.

Emergency response teams, including airport fire and hazardous materials units, were dispatched to the scene. They utilized dry chemical agents and absorbent materials to contain and clean up the spilled fuel, mitigating any potential fire risk from fuel vapors. After inspecting the damaged fuel nozzle assembly, technicians confirmed that the refueling port itself had sustained damage, rendering the aircraft unable to continue its flight duties, and resulting in the cancellation of flight CA982.

Industry analysts have noted that the damage appears limited to the refueling port connection, while the aircraft's main fuselage and fuel tank structure remain intact, contrary to some online speculation suggesting a fuel tank rupture. The necessary repairs will involve replacing the affected components and conducting seal integrity tests. Once the aircraft is restored to airworthy condition, it is expected to resume normal operations. The aircraft currently remains at Kennedy Airport, where maintenance crews from Air China, in collaboration with authorized Boeing repair facilities, will conduct a thorough inspection and repair of the wing fueling port and associated piping.