Woman claims to have been sprayed by jet fuel

Airline Industry Information, March 25, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A woman living four miles south of Tampa International Airport claims she was sprayed by fuel dumped from a jet flying low over her neighbourhood.

The 51-year-old woman said she was walking on Monday night (21 March) when the alleged incident occurred. She claimed she heard a sound similar to an aircraft flying overhead, and then felt a mist accompanied by a strong fuel odour. After the incident, she allegedly had difficulty breathing and experienced tingling of her skin and scalp.

Both the airport and Federal Aviation Administration denied the claim, saying there was no emergency that would have forced a jet to dump its fuel on Monday (21 March) night.

Jet fuel is a known carcinogen that causes irritation to eyes, nausea, headaches and light-headedness.

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