BEIJING- Air China (CA) Boeing 747-8, registration B-2486, was damaged during refueling at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on August 31, 2026. The incident damaged the aircraft’s wing fuel ports and caused jet fuel to spill onto the apron.
Air China (CA) subsequently canceled Flight CA982 from New York JFK to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). No injuries were reported, while the 11-year-old Boeing 747-8 remains grounded at JFK for inspection and repairs.
Air China 747-8 Damaged During JFK Refueling
The incident occurred in the early hours of August 31, shortly before the aircraft’s scheduled 2:05 AM departure for Beijing. B-2486 was undergoing routine refueling when the fuel truck reportedly moved away from the aircraft while two fuel hoses remained connected.
The movement placed stress on the connected hoses and damaged the Boeing 747-8’s fuel ports. Jet fuel then spilled from the aircraft onto the airport apron.
Video footage circulating online shows the fuel truck moving forward while the hoses remained attached to the aircraft. The driver subsequently exited the vehicle as fuel continued to flow from the damaged area beneath the wing.
Photographs shared on Weibo showed ground personnel inspecting the affected fuel ports and cleaning up fuel beneath the aircraft.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. The reported aircraft damage has been classified as minor, although the exact extent of the required repairs remains unclear.
Flight CA982 Canceled After Aircraft Damage
The incident prevented B-2486 from operating its scheduled flight to Beijing. Air China removed passengers’ baggage from the aircraft before canceling CA982.
Flight-tracking data confirmed that B-2486 remained at New York JFK following the incident. The next Air China service from JFK to Beijing departed the following night at approximately 2:58 AM.
Passengers were reportedly informed of the cancellation several hours after the original scheduled departure time. Air China reportedly attributed the cancellation to a fuel guarantee issue.
The Boeing 747-8 had arrived at JFK at approximately 9:45 PM local time on August 30. The aircraft was scheduled to complete a short turnaround before departing for Beijing early the following morning, Simple Flying reported.
Boeing 747-8 Remains Grounded at JFK
B-2486 remains on the ground at JFK while the aircraft undergoes inspection following the refueling incident. Although the damage has been described as minor, the timeline for its return to commercial service has not been established.
The longer the aircraft remains grounded, the greater the operational impact for Air China. The airline operates only a small number of passenger-configured Boeing 747-8 aircraft, limiting its ability to replace one of the aircraft when it becomes unavailable.
JFK is also one of Air China’s remaining US destinations where the Boeing 747-8 is regularly deployed. The airline operates the aircraft on the New York route several times each week from Terminal 1.
Air China Continues to Operate a Small 747 Fleet
Air China remains among the limited number of airlines operating the Boeing 747 as a passenger aircraft. Its fleet includes both the 747-400 and the newer 747-8.
The airline received seven Boeing 747-8 aircraft. Two were configured specifically for government and VIP operations, leaving five 747-8s for passenger service. These aircraft were delivered between 2014 and 2015.
Air China uses its passenger 747-8s on several important routes. Beyond the United States, the aircraft is deployed on the Beijing to Frankfurt route and selected high-density domestic services, including flights to Guangzhou and Shanghai.
The airline also has two Boeing 747-400s remaining, primarily assigned to domestic operations. These aircraft can accommodate up to 344 passengers in three cabin classes.
Boeing 747-8 Passenger Fleet Nears Its End
The Boeing 747 program ended in January 2023 when Boeing delivered the final 747, a freighter operated by Atlas Air. Boeing built only 48 passenger-configured 747-8 aircraft.
Air China was one of the few airlines to order the passenger version of the 747-8, giving it a notable role in the aircraft’s limited commercial passenger fleet.
Along with Air China, Lufthansa, Korean Air and Rossiya remain among the airlines operating passenger Boeing 747 aircraft. As the global 747 fleet continues to shrink, the availability of each aircraft becomes increasingly important for operators that still use the type on scheduled passenger services.
For Air China, the grounding of B-2486 therefore affects not only one aircraft but also a small and increasingly specialized part of its long-haul fleet.
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