Thousands of gallons of jet fuel spilled into the James River at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division near Newport News, VA, Feb. 13 during a fuel transfer to the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79). The ship is the Navy’s new Gerald R. Ford class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which has been undergoing “pre-commissioning” trials since 2019.
The initial estimate of spilled fuel ranged from dozens of gallons to almost 8,000 gallons. But on Feb. 17, shipyard engineers calculated that no more than 4,722 gallons could have been spilled because the rest is accounted for in the ship’s piping and storage tanks.
There is no evidence that drinking water has been impacted. But the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recommends that residents and boaters avoid water with odor or oil sheen. According to the agency, odors from jet fuel can cause headaches, nausea and throat irritation, especially for those with respiratory conditions.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) found that one red-throated loon died due to the fuel spill on Feb. 16. The James River Association and Chesapeake Bay Foundation are concerned about other impacts on wildlife.
“This major fuel spill is a not only a threat to people, but also a danger to the health of the river,” Joe Wood, Virginia senior scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said in a statement. “Fuel spills, even after they are cleaned up, can continue to disrupt wildlife communities for many years.”
As of Feb. 17, hundreds of gallons of jet fuel have been removed from the James River. Cleanup efforts are ongoing by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, DEQ, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, VDH and the cities of Newport News, Hampton, and Suffolk.
The cause of the spill is under investigation.
This story appeared in the Bay Journal on Feb 20, 2026
