Well, over New Jersey, actually.  He just lives there.

CNN had THIS report today about Continental Flight 9 from Newark, NJ to Japan having to return to Newark airport after developing hydraulic problems shortly after take off.  Because the aircraft was full of fuel for the long flight, fuel had to be dumped until the aircraft had a safe landing weight. 

An aircraft that can take-off with one weight can’t necessarily land with that same weight without risking damage (or worse) to the aircraft.  So fuel is dumped.  At least it is with large widebody aircraft such as the 777.  Otherwise the aircraft would have to stay airborn for 6 or more hours until it had burned off enough fuel.  The fuel vaporizes long before reaching the ground in almost all cases.  It’s regrettable but also unavoidable.

Filed under: Airline News, Trivia by ajax