Queens, NY – An underground pipeline that carries jet fuel to the city’s airports – and was targeted by terrorists in 2007 – was damaged, spilling 500 gallons of gasoline into the streets of Queens.
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A contractor hired by the MTA to do maintenance work in Sunnyside accidentally drilled a hole into the Buckeye Pipeline, which sits 4 feet below street level and brings 8 million gallons of fuel and refined petroleum into the city daily.
The hole in the 12-inch pipe triggered an automatic shutdown of the system as firefighters raced to the corner of Skillman Avenue and 37th Street to spray flame-retardant foam upon fuel that escaped.
“That could have blown up the whole block,” said Richard Smith, 61, who works at a nearby auto shop.
Four people were busted two years ago for scheming to blow up the pipeline to JFK and LaGuardia airports.
The spill did not affect operations at either airport, a Port Authority spokesman said.
pretty dumb to write soo many details. like how many gallons fuel it brings, where it goes, which airports get fuel from there. is this supposed to educate the public ? or the terrorists!
They need to do a better job securing it. What kind of bad contractor is this guy. Just comes to show who wins city contracts.
are we safe from the terrorists?
are we safe from the mta?
what happened to call before you dig?
The pipeline is only 4 feet below street level. Are you kidding me. What in the world were they thinking when they made this.
Doesn’t this bother anyone. The state would rather spend money in passing a bill for same gender marriage than spending a little more money and put this thing further underground.
This pipeline runs alongside the tracks running trhu Boro Park, Midwood, and Flatbush – right thru all the heimish neighborhoods. it is a known fact, and the lines are clearly tagged (and stupidly enough only 4 ft underground). It carries a highly flammable gas used in the airplanes. Dangerous is putting it mildly.
Hashem yishmor.
“That could have blown up the whole block,” said Richard Smith, 61, who works at a nearby auto shop.”
“It carries a highly flammable gas used in the airplanes. Dangerous is putting it mildly.”
Actually Jet fuel is much less volatile than Gasoline. It’s basically a high grade kerosine and is more similar to diesel fuel than gasoline. Chances of explosion are nil unless you happen to fly a fully loaded jet into the WTC at 400 mph. The huge amount of fuel igniting at once makes a large fireball but it is not comparable to the explosion that would have been made by gasoline vapor igniting in the same quantities.
That said, CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! 1-800-962-7962 Give two full working days notice. It’s free.