Image Courtesy: The Baltimore Sun
A major U.S. military installation responsible for housing and maintaining Air Force One reportedly leaked around 32,000 gallons of jet fuel into waterways connected to the Potomac River over several months, according to newly revealed documents and state investigations.
The fuel leak occurred at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the military facility used for presidential aircraft operations and other Air Force activities. The base sits near Piscataway Creek, a tributary connected to the Potomac River, according to reporting by NOTUS.
According to the timeline described in the report, the base’s fuel system reportedly failed a critical leak safety test in December. Over the following months, personnel noticed fuel losses totaling roughly 10,000 gallons, though officials initially believed the leak was contained within the base itself.
The situation escalated in late March when observers reported what appeared to be oil floating in Piscataway Creek. That discovery forced the Department of Defense to notify Maryland environmental authorities.
State officials later accused the military of failing to fully disclose the extent of the spill during initial communications. According to Maryland regulators, it took approximately two additional weeks before officials were informed about the larger estimated volume of leaked fuel.
Environmental officials expressed frustration over the delays, arguing that rapid reporting is critical during spills involving fuel and waterways. Maryland Deputy Environment Secretary Adam Ortiz told NOTUS that investigators are still trying to determine exactly how much fuel reached surrounding waters.
State inspection reports cited by the publication also criticized the response effort itself. Inspectors reportedly wrote in an April report that containment and cleanup measures had been “minimal and insufficient,” with some deadlines already overdue.
Jet fuel contamination can pose significant environmental risks, particularly to aquatic ecosystems. Fuel spills may harm fish, birds, plant life, and water quality depending on the scale and duration of exposure. Investigators are still working to assess the full environmental impact on Piscataway Creek and connected waterways.
The incident also raises broader concerns about aging infrastructure and environmental oversight at military facilities. Fuel storage systems at large bases often handle enormous volumes of petroleum products, making leak detection and rapid response especially important.
Joint Base Andrews is one of the country’s highest-profile military facilities due to its connection to presidential air travel and national security operations. The leak’s location near sensitive waterways has intensified scrutiny from both state regulators and environmental officials.
The Department of Defense has not yet publicly detailed the complete scope of the cleanup effort or whether disciplinary or infrastructure changes will follow.
For Maryland regulators, the bigger issue may now be transparency. Officials are questioning why it took months for the scale of the leak to fully emerge and whether additional undisclosed environmental problems could still exist.