A faulty electrical circuit at Buffalo Niagara International Airport’s fuel supply facility disrupted fuel transfer operations early Monday, triggering flight delays and prompting a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NOTAM that briefly indicated the airport was out of fuel.
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), which operates the airport, issued a statement late Sunday night via local media denying any fuel shortage. The authority attributed the disruption to a technical issue that temporarily halted fuel transfer via the pressurized pipeline system, though it noted that regular operations were minimally impacted. Emergency repairs were initiated, and tanker trucks were deployed to restore fuel supply while the electrical failure was addressed.
The FAA’s NOTAM, issued at approximately 23:30 on Sunday, stated that Buffalo Niagara was unable to refuel aircraft, contributing to confusion before the NFTA clarified the situation. Some departing flights were diverted to other airports to refuel prior to the tanker truck solution becoming available, according to local reports.
Airlines including Southwest Airlines and American Airlines were among those affected by the disruption, which occurred in Cheektowaga, New York. The airport resumed normal operations once the fuel transfer system was restored, though the exact duration of the disruption and the number of delayed flights were not immediately disclosed by authorities.
