On the night of February 5 in Tempe, Arizona, jet fuel from a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk's tank number two (about 450 gallons) reportedly coated cars, lawns and windshields in neighborhoods near 6th Street and Farmer Avenue. Tempe Environmental Services mapped petroleum odors across multiple blocks, and the helicopter landed safely at Phoenix Sky Harbor. Residents say they were given little information that night and many only learned details months later; the Army has not explained whether the release was mechanical or an intentional emergency dump.
Black Hawk Jet Fuel Rained Over Tempe Neighborhood — Residents Learned Months Later
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On the night of February 5, residents in Tempe, Arizona, woke to an unusual smell and soon discovered a petroleum-like film on cars, lawns and windshields. City records identify a US Army special operations UH-60 Black Hawk as the aircraft overhead that evening; inspectors later traced the odor to the helicopter's fuel tank number two.
What Happened
According to a report filed with the City of Tempe, fuel tank number two on the Black Hawk — a tank that holds roughly 450 gallons — failed or released fuel while the helicopter was over neighborhoods near 6th Street and Farmer Avenue. Environmental Services teams were dispatched and used a map of red-dot markers to record locations where personnel detected petroleum odors, documenting detections across multiple blocks.
Official Response
Tempe fire officials were notified shortly after the event, and Environmental Services conducted inspections to map affected areas. The helicopter reportedly landed safely at Phoenix Sky Harbor following the incident. City records and local reporters say the Army has not responded to requests for clarification about whether the release was caused by mechanical failure or an intentional emergency fuel dump.
Community Impact
Longtime residents Alice Miranda and her daughter Bernadette, who live near 10th Street and Priest, said they called the fire department the night the fuel fell and were told activity was happening elsewhere in Tempe and that they should not worry.
Many neighbors were left cleaning fuel from car hoods, driveways and lawns. More than four months passed before details about the source of the fuel were shared with many residents, leaving questions about health, environmental impact and transparency.
Open Questions
Key questions remain unanswered: Was the fuel release the result of a mechanical failure, an authorized emergency fuel dump, or another cause? Why did residents not receive timely information? Reporters have sought comment from the Army but have not received a response as of the latest updates.
What to Watch: Authorities' follow-up testing results, any official explanation from the Army, and potential environmental or health assessments for affected properties.
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