A Smartwings Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration OK-SWF performing flight QS-2635 (dep Jun 17th) from Antalya (Turkey) to Prague (Czech Republic), was enroute at FL360 about 100nm southsoutheast of Bratislava (Slovakia) in Hungarian Airspace when the crew decided to divert to Bratislava reporting they suspected a fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely on Bratislava's runway 31 about 20 minutes later.
The airline reported technical reasons for a suspected fuel leak, the aircraft landed in Bratislava at about 01:00L. Hotel capacities in Bratislava were fully booked, hence the company recommended to take the bus or train from Bratislava to Prague for fastest onward transportation, the tickets would be fully reimbursed.
Czechia's UZPLN reported that enroute the crew noticed a fuel imbalance, the right hand tank had 200kg less fuel than the left hand tank, the difference continuously increased. The crew looked up the fuel imbalance and fuel leak checklists to be prepared for a possible emergency. The crew decided to divert to Bratislava, the crew kept both engines running in the absence of abnormal indications. The aircraft landed without further incident, after landing the right hand engine was shut down. Arriving at the stand the fuel difference had become 560 kg. Maintenance found a hole under clamp of the fuel line. Checking two service bulletins by the manufacturer the clamp should have been regularly checked or replaced by a new type, however, the SBs did not include the engine's serial number, hence the operator had not applied the SBs. UZPLN is further investigating.
The airline reported technical reasons for a suspected fuel leak, the aircraft landed in Bratislava at about 01:00L. Hotel capacities in Bratislava were fully booked, hence the company recommended to take the bus or train from Bratislava to Prague for fastest onward transportation, the tickets would be fully reimbursed.
Czechia's UZPLN reported that enroute the crew noticed a fuel imbalance, the right hand tank had 200kg less fuel than the left hand tank, the difference continuously increased. The crew looked up the fuel imbalance and fuel leak checklists to be prepared for a possible emergency. The crew decided to divert to Bratislava, the crew kept both engines running in the absence of abnormal indications. The aircraft landed without further incident, after landing the right hand engine was shut down. Arriving at the stand the fuel difference had become 560 kg. Maintenance found a hole under clamp of the fuel line. Checking two service bulletins by the manufacturer the clamp should have been regularly checked or replaced by a new type, however, the SBs did not include the engine's serial number, hence the operator had not applied the SBs. UZPLN is further investigating.
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