Air Mexico Emergency at KLAS

[neondesert]

With this weekend marking the bicentennial for Mexican Independence Day, it was not unusual to have above normal air traffic over the Las Vegas skies.  Although, it was a little nerve wracking to hear Air Mexico flight 6531 declare an emergency shortly after departing from McCarran around 4pm local time.  

The pilot stated he was losing fuel very fast and requested to return to the airport.  Fortunately, they landed safely and without incident.

At about the 5:25 minute mark you can very faintly hear the fire department advise that there was no fuel on the runway and no visible leaks from the aircraft.  I apologize for the poor quality of the ground portion of the recording.

[klkm]

So if no fuel was leaking after they landed and none was found on the runway after they landed, was their fuel gauge broken or did they drain the whole main tank in the air?  Would be interesting to know the story behind the fuel leak. 

[alltheway]

So if no fuel was leaking after they landed and none was found on the runway after they landed, was their fuel gauge broken or did they drain the whole main tank in the air?  Would be interesting to know the story behind the fuel leak. 

The take-off radio transmission is not included here, but according to the media the tower informed them of fuel coming out of the right side of the airplane as it took off. Read the story here: http://www.avherald.com/h?article=4312d454&opt=0   

[neondesert]

I agree it would be interesting to find out what the actual problem was.  I did a little further research and found an article in The Aviation Herald about the incident.  The article mentions that the tower noticed something venting from the right side wing shortly after takeoff but the crew reported everything was normal.

Here is a link to the article: http://avherald.com/h?article=4312d454&opt=1

I have since went back into the archives and edited the clip to include communications from the tower before and during takeoff .  It adds about a minute to the recording but does give a more complete picture from takeoff to landing.

Edit: Oops, sorry about that alltheway you were a little quicker at the keyboard than me. 

[svoynick]

At about the 5:25 minute mark you can very faintly hear the fire department advise that there was no fuel on the runway and no visible leaks from the aircraft.

For those listening to the clip now in it's re-edited form, this fire department call comes at about 6:52.

[amxcaptain]

fyi its "Aeromexico" not "Air Mexico"  LOL