By Alex Mitchley.
Flights at the OR Tambo International Airport in the East of Johannesburg, have been delayed due to refuelling challenges.
Planes are unable to “refuel as normal”, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said in a statement on Monday.
Passengers at the airport reported that there were long queues. Others had been sitting in aircraft on the airside apron for nearly two hours.
“As a result, some flights might experience delays,” the statement read.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause, and technicians are working to solve the situation as quickly as possible. We will continue to keep passengers informed of any updates.
No information was provided about what had led to the refuelling challenges or how many aircraft have been affected.
A passenger on a plane destined for Cape Town said his flight had already been delayed by almost two hours on Monday.
According to Deon Wiggett, the pilot explained that a fuel line valve had broken, preventing the airport from refuelling the aircraft.
“It’s becoming quite a crisis here in Johannesburg. The airport has come to a standstill. It’s not just Safair, it’s all the aircraft on the main apron,” the pilot told his passengers, according to Wiggett.
He added that by noon, the pilot said there was a mobile solution and that they should be in the air within the following 30 minutes.