Passengers and aviation workers at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) witnessed a dramatic and potentially hazardous spectacle on October 10 and 11, 2025, when a routine refueling operation for an American Eagle regional jet spiraled into chaos. What began as a standard late-night procedure ended with jet fuel spraying uncontrollably across the tarmac, viral social media videos, and a flurry of safety investigations.
The incident unfolded at Terminal E, one of the busiest sections of DFW, as a ground worker prepared to disconnect a refueling hose from a Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft, registered as N593NN. According to The Dallas Morning News and multiple eyewitness accounts, the worker appeared to have completed fueling when, in a split second, the hose—still under significant pressure—detached and whipped violently beneath the aircraft. Highly flammable jet fuel gushed in every direction, pooling beneath the jet and soaking nearby equipment. The worker, visibly startled and splashed by the fuel, stumbled backward before rallying to shut off the pump at the refueling truck, finally halting the deluge.
Videos of the event, captured both by airport surveillance and by passengers in the terminal, quickly spread across social media platforms. One clip, posted by @airmainengineer, showed the hose snaking wildly under the plane, with the caption, “Bro didn’t refuel the plane—he refueled the entire ramp.” Another post humorously commented that “the ramp’s never looked so clean or so moisturized,” underscoring the surreal nature of the spill.
While the footage may have prompted nervous laughter online, the reality was far more serious. Large pools of jet fuel formed on the tarmac, raising immediate concerns about fire risk and operational safety. According to a statement from American Airlines, “We are aware of a fueling issue that occurred on Oct. 10 involving an American Eagle aircraft that was parked at the gate in Terminal E.” The airline added, “We are looking into the incident with DFW Airport and the airport’s fueling contractor, Menzies, and worked together on the cleanup per procedure.”
Airport authorities confirmed to The New York Post that the spill containment infrastructure at DFW was activated promptly, capturing the runaway fuel before it could spread further. Emergency response teams deployed special absorbent materials to clean the surface, and nearby gates were momentarily paused as a precaution. Thankfully, there were no injuries or reported damage to the aircraft or surrounding equipment. The exact quantity of fuel lost has not yet been disclosed.
Speculation about the cause of the mishap has been rife among both aviation experts and online commentators. Some ramp agents and industry insiders suggested the incident likely stemmed from a mechanical fault—perhaps a damaged hose, faulty pump, or malfunctioning safety device known as the “dead man’s switch.” This switch is designed to automatically cut off fuel flow if the operator loses control, but some observers theorized it may have been overridden or failed to engage. One Reddit user noted, “If you look closely the single point receptacle is still attached. He was messing with the clicky rings. Also, the hose cart operator is supposed to be holding a deadman switch. All you do is let go and it stops. Which means someone was probably overriding safety procedures.”
The worker’s quick thinking in shutting off the pump, despite being splashed with fuel, drew praise from several quarters. As aviation safety consultant Mark Jacobs told BBC News, “The fact that the worker managed to reach the pump and stop the flow likely prevented a much more serious incident, possibly even a fire or explosion.”
American Airlines, DFW Airport, and Menzies—the airport’s fueling contractor—have all launched investigations into the event. Menzies has not yet issued a public comment regarding the incident. In the meantime, airport officials have reassured the public that all standard safety procedures were followed during the cleanup and that the affected area was thoroughly inspected before operations resumed.
This was not the first time a major airport has faced a jet fuel spill during ground operations. Nearly a year earlier, Düsseldorf Airport in Germany experienced a similar emergency when a refueling truck struck a bollard, puncturing the tanker and spilling fuel across the ramp. In that case, the airport’s fire service quickly contained the situation using absorption pads and safety barriers. Such incidents, while rare, highlight the ever-present risks associated with handling large volumes of flammable material under high pressure.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ground fueling accidents are among the most dangerous types of ramp incidents, given the potential for ignition and rapid escalation. Even minor technical faults or lapses in procedure can have catastrophic consequences. That’s why airports invest heavily in both staff training and the maintenance of safety-critical equipment.
In the aftermath of the DFW spill, some industry veterans have called for renewed attention to the reliability of ground fueling systems and the importance of adhering to established safety protocols. “Incidents like this are a wake-up call,” said aviation safety analyst Linda Ramirez in an interview with Reuters. “We need to ensure that every link in the safety chain—from equipment maintenance to operator training—is as strong as possible. There’s no room for complacency when you’re dealing with jet fuel.”
The rapid spread of video footage from the incident also sparked a wider conversation about transparency and public awareness in aviation safety. While some passengers expressed alarm at the sight of fuel spraying across the ramp, others were reassured by the speed and professionalism of the emergency response. As one frequent flyer put it on social media, “It’s scary to see, but it also shows the systems in place work when they’re needed most.”
For now, the investigation continues, with American Airlines, DFW Airport, and Menzies working to determine exactly what went wrong and how to prevent similar incidents in the future. As air travel rebounds and airports grow busier, the lessons learned from this near-miss will likely inform safety practices across the industry.
One thing is certain: on that October night at DFW, a quick-thinking worker, a robust emergency response, and a bit of luck turned what could have been a disaster into a cautionary tale—and a viral sensation.
