Fuel spewed from an Air Niugini Fokker 100 on July 10 only minutes after it took off from Cairns airport.
The Port Moresby-bound jet, with 51 people on board, was forced to turn around for an emergency landing in Cairns, where the problem was fixed and the plane took off safely.
After an internal investigation into the incident, the airline yesterday announced it would no longer allow Cairns ground staff to refuel its planes.
Air Niugini declined to comment when contacted by The Cairns Post but in a statement said the ban had been effective since 14 July, four days after the emergency landing.
“Air Niugini will now be responsible for refueling of all its Fokker 100 aircraft operating out of Cairns effective Tuesday, July 14, 2009, until such time the airline re-authorizes the aircraft ground handling service provider there to conduct refueling of its F100 aircraft,” the statement read.
“Air Niugini has resorted to the above action after carrying out a review on the procedures by its aircraft ground handling service provider in Cairns following the venting of fuel on one of its Fokker 100 aircraft operating out of Cairns airport on Friday, 10 July.”
Air Niugini said its investigation into the incident was ongoing and said an independent, external investigator would also look into the incident.
A spokeswoman for Cairns airport declined to comment yesterday while a spokesman for the contracted refueling company used at Cairns airport also declined to comment.
