Cargo plane dumps fuel over towns around Liège Airport before emergency landing
A cargo plane dumped its fuel over several towns near Liège Airport after the pilot detected a problem with the landing gear. The plane subsequently landed safely, the airport confirmed.
The Challenge Airlines 747 took off shortly before 10:30 on Sunday from Liège, bound for New York. After a problem was detected, the pilot began ditching fuel over several municipalities in the area.
Fuel dumping is mainly used in emergencies that require an immediate landing, as the maximum weight allowed for landing is lower than that for take-off.
“This operation, carried out via nozzles on the wings, aims to reduce the weight of the aircraft so as not to damage the structure or overshoot the runway, with most of the fuel vaporising in flight,” an airport spokesperson said.
The incident will be investigated by the municipality of Crisnée and if necessary, a pollution analysis will be carried out.
Performance compromised
Skeyes, the company responsible for controlling Belgian airspace, says fuel dumping can be initiated by a pilot to lighten the aircraft if performance is compromised due to the failure of one or more engines in flight. It can also be used to reduce weight if it is forced to land earlier than planned due to a turn-back or diversion, as happened on Sunday.
This only occurs when the safety of an aircraft is threatened and is relatively rare, Skeyes says.
Fuel dumping in Belgium must in principle be carried out over the North Sea, at an altitude of more than 3km. If this is not possible for safety reasons, the procedure, which is the responsibility of the pilot, may take place at another location, “avoiding towns, villages or built-up areas if possible”.
Air traffic control is involved in the process to ensure sufficient separation from other aircraft, and airlines are required to report such incidents to their respective authorities.
A cargo plane circling the region around Liège AIrport, 14 December 2025 © BELGA PHOTO / VIDEO THOMAS MICHIELS
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