Garuda Indonesia 737 Rejects Takeoff Amid Fuel Leak at Jakarta Airport

JAKARTA- A Garuda Indonesia (GA) flight with Boeing 737 aborted takeoff due to a fuel leak on August 24, 2024, at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK). The incident occurred as Flight GA174, carrying 135 passengers, prepared to depart for Pekanbaru (PLM).

The pilot discovered the leak during final safety checks, prompting immediate action to return the Boeing 737-800 to the apron. This decision potentially prevented a serious incident.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Garuda Indonesia 737 Fuel Leak

A prominent Indonesian singer captured the event on video, sparking widespread social media attention and raising concerns about aviation safety.

Garuda Indonesia CEO Irfan Setiaputra confirmed the incident, stating, “The safety of our passengers is our top priority. Our pilots are trained to act quickly and decisively in such situations.”

The airline has initiated a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fuel leak and implement preventive measures. This incident highlights the critical importance of pre-flight safety checks and rapid decision-making in aviation, aviation direct reported.

The affected aircraft, registered as PK-GFW, underwent a full inspection following the aborted takeoff. Garuda Indonesia’s response to this incident will likely face scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.

Viral Video

A video captured by Indonesian singer Kunto Aji exposed a fuel leak on Garuda Indonesia Flight GA 174, sparking widespread concern on social media. The footage, shared on X (formerly Twitter), amassed over 2.7 million views rapidly, triggering a flood of reactions from netizens.

Aji, a passenger on the aborted flight, conveyed his distress in a post accompanying the video: “My life was just saved, thank God I still have time, it was discovered, turned around but didn’t fly. This is so scary.” His words resonated with thousands of commenters, who expressed relief and apprehension about the incident.

Garuda Indonesia swiftly responded by rebooking all 135 passengers on a replacement flight. The new aircraft departed from Jakarta to Pekanbaru at 14:00 local time, approximately two hours after the scheduled departure.

Meanwhile, technicians conducted a thorough examination of the affected Boeing 737-800 to identify the cause of the leak and ensure passenger safety. The airline issued an official statement expressing relief that the incident concluded without injuries or major disruptions.

Photo: By Riyad Filza – riyadfilza-20131015-DPS-b744-garuda-1100px, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39147495

Bottom Line

Despite Garuda’s reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s safest airlines, this event underscores that even well-regarded carriers face technical challenges.

Aviation experts emphasize the critical importance of regular maintenance and strict safety protocols in maintaining passenger confidence and preventing such incidents. The discovery of the fuel leak moments before takeoff highlights the necessity of thorough pre-flight checks and swift crew responses.

While technical issues leading to flight delays or cancellations are not uncommon in the global aviation industry, the timing of this incident amplifies its significance.

The pilot’s quick decision to abort takeoff and return to the apron potentially averted a more serious situation, reinforcing the value of rigorous safety measures and well-trained flight crews.

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