27-8-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesia’s flag carrier Garuda Indonesia experienced a fuel leak on one of its aircraft at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The event, which occurred over the weekend, prompted swift action from the airline’s crew and management.
The affected flight, GA-174, was scheduled to depart from Jakarta to Pekanbaru at 11:50 local time on Saturday. The Boeing 737, bearing the registration PK-GFW, was slated to arrive at Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport in Pekanbaru at 13:35.
Garuda Indonesia’s President Director, Irfan Setiaputra, addressed the incident in a statement released on Saturday. He explained that the fuel leak was detected during a routine pre-takeoff safety check, a critical procedure mandated by the airline’s safety manual.
Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-8U3 aircraft (PK-GFW/ Built 2013) experienced fuel leak from its Right wing while in the process of departure just before take-off at Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on 24 August.
Indonesian Musician Kunto Aji shared a video of the fuel… pic.twitter.com/o9b3JbV24N
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 26, 2024
“Our Pilot in Command discovered the issue whilst conducting standard pre-flight checks,” Setiaputra stated. “This demonstrates the effectiveness of our safety protocols and the vigilance of our flight crews.”
Upon discovering the fuel leak, the pilot made the decision to return the aircraft to the apron for a comprehensive inspection. This move, whilst causing a delay, prioritised passenger safety above all else.
“The safety and well-being of our passengers are paramount,” Setiaputra emphasised. “The decision to conduct a thorough inspection of the fuel spill was made with this principle in mind.”
All 135 passengers originally booked on GA-174 were promptly rescheduled onto a replacement flight. This swift action minimised inconvenience whilst ensuring that safety standards were not compromised.
