Cape Town – Planes at OR Tambo International Airport were grounded on Wednesday due to what the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed was a technical problem at the fuel storage facility.
“Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) can confirm that OR Tambo International Airport was experiencing challenges with fuel supply from the fuel storage facility to the main hydrant system.
“This impacted refueling of aircrafts,” ACSA said in a statement.
ACSA maintained that the airport did not have any fuel shortage, and said, however, that: “We are currently experiencing delays with domestic departures as well as international departures.”
— ORTambo (@ortambo_int) December 28, 2022
Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula said he had spoken to the ACSA management about the situation.
“I have been in contact with ACSA Management & have been assured there is no fuel shortage at OR Tambo Airport but a technical issue at the storage which has been resolved.
“Management apologizes for the inconvenience this might have caused; flights will return to normal schedule,” said Mbalula in a tweet.
I have been in contact with ACSA Management & have been assured there is no fuel shortage at OR Tambo Airport but a technical issue at the storage which has been resolved.
Management apologizes for the inconvenience this might have caused; flights will return to normal schedule.
— Cde Fikile Mbalula | ANC SG (@MbalulaFikile) December 28, 2022
Times Live reported on Wednesday that the technical glitch at the airport had left passengers waiting for hours for their flights.
The report quoted one of the passengers Goodman Mthombeni, as saying that he was meant to depart to Cape Town on a FlySafair flight, but they were told to disembark while they waited for the plane to be refuelled.
“After two hours, we were advised to get off to get food and stretch. It has been four hours and we were told to return because they managed to secure fuel from the supplier.
“There was an international flight next to us which was meant to depart at 03:00 but only left at around 09:00,” the report quoted Mthombeni as saying.
Massive delays at OR Tambo International Airports
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirm that O.R. Tambo International Airport is experiencing challenges with fuel supply from the fuel storage facility to the main hydrant system#ortambo #kingShaka pic.twitter.com/aB7q2WoIi3
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) December 28, 2022
Take a look at some of the reactions from passengers:
A whole International Airport with shortage of fuel…eish first time to hear this. #ORTAMBO #or_tambo @ortambo_int pic.twitter.com/MckBXw5WzH
— wity_morgan (@wity_morgan) December 28, 2022
There is shortage of fuel at OR Tambo airport, which has left us stranded. We have been stuck on the flight since 05:20. Apparently ACSA is not providing proper updates n the issue @SABCNews @Radio702
— Mthii40 (@papantitombiGP) December 28, 2022
Been stuck on flight FA286 for two hours now. Fuel / fuel truck shortage, bus shortage and overcrowded terminal. #ACSA
— Guma Kahimbaara (@kahimbaara) December 28, 2022
We are finally boarding. But now I don’t know what the delay is. Nobody is telling us anything… OR Tambo International Airport is just chaos today. Can someone tell me where the queue is? ? pic.twitter.com/krrh7jD2az
— Simphiwe Petros (@SimphiwePetros) December 28, 2022
All flights at OR Tambo are indefinitely delayed because there is no fuel. Apparently the workers of the company that provide the fuel are on strike. All I want is to be in Cape Town.??♂️
2022 stays throwing hands ??♂️ pic.twitter.com/AMjK57PNSU
— Simphiwe Petros (@SimphiwePetros) December 28, 2022
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Getty Images
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
