AMSTERDAM— A former employee of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) has lost a legal battle for compensation after a Dutch court ruled that his actions during an aircraft refueling operation created a serious safety risk and justified his dismissal.
The ruling stems from a fuel spill incident that occurred while the 52-year-old ground crew worker was refueling an aircraft for KLM.
The court found that his failure to actively monitor the process led to the release of approximately 1,000 liters of kerosene, creating a potentially dangerous situation for airport personnel and passengers.
KLM Refueling Incident
The employee joined KLM Ground Crew as a permanent worker in May 2024 after spending several years in the same role through temporary employment arrangements. His responsibilities included aircraft refueling, a task governed by strict operational and safety procedures.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on June 14, 2024, when the employee initiated the refueling process and then entered the fuel tanker vehicle instead of maintaining visual supervision of the operation.
KLM’s procedures require workers to continuously monitor fuel transfer activities and remain in a position where they can immediately identify irregularities. Investigators determined that the employee could not observe the aircraft while seated inside the vehicle.
During the refueling process, fuel began leaking from the aircraft wing area. A nearby colleague noticed the spill and alerted the employee, but approximately 90 seconds had already passed.
By that point, an estimated 1,000 liters of kerosene had escaped onto the airport apron. Emergency services responded to secure the area, while firefighters and other personnel worked to contain and clean up the spill, NL Times flagged.
The aircraft eventually departed after a delay of approximately 90 minutes.
Court Backs KLM
Following the incident, KLM suspended the employee with pay and launched an internal investigation.
The airline concluded that the worker had violated established safety regulations. Investigators also found that he provided inconsistent explanations about his actions and had previously received warnings regarding compliance with operational procedures.
The former employee challenged the airline’s decision and sought reinstatement or financial compensation.
He argued that it was common practice for employees to sit inside tanker vehicles during refueling operations and claimed that equipment failures, rather than his conduct, caused the fuel leak.
He further maintained that KLM took too long to complete its disciplinary process.
However, the Noord-Holland District Court rejected those arguments and sided with the airline.
The judge determined that the employee knowingly violated safety rules by leaving the refueling operation unattended. The court also emphasized that previous warnings demonstrated he was already aware of the importance of following established procedures.
Severance Claim Rejected
The former worker sought roughly €85,000 in total compensation, including damages for wrongful dismissal, transition payments, and salary-related claims.
KLM argued that the employee’s actions created an extremely dangerous environment with the potential for fire or explosion. The airline maintained that the safety risks justified immediate dismissal.
In its ruling, the court agreed that the employee’s conduct amounted to serious negligence. Judges noted that the unnecessary risks endangered colleagues, passengers, and other individuals present near the aircraft.
As a result, the court ruled that KLM was entitled to terminate the employee’s contract without additional compensation.
Instead of receiving severance pay, the former worker was ordered to cover €1,148 in legal costs incurred by his former employer, bringing the dispute to a close.
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