A fuel supply disruption at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday caused delays for 483 flights and affected nearly 50,000 passengers, according to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).
ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu confirmed that 31 flights had to be canceled due to the incident, which was caused by a sheared drive shaft. The malfunction prevented jet fuel from being pumped from storage tanks to the airport's aprons, where aircraft are refueled.
Mpofu stated that ACSA is conducting a thorough investigation into the disruption. "We are finalizing an incident report and organizing an emergency valve replacement," she told Newzroom Afrika.
The damaged drive shaft has been sent for laboratory analysis to determine the exact cause of its failure. "This detailed report will provide a clear understanding of what led to the drive shaft breaking apart," Mpofu added.
The disruption underscores the critical importance of maintaining infrastructure at one of Africa’s busiest airports, which serves as a key hub for international and domestic travel.