On February 13, 2026, a release of JP-5 jet fuel occurred at Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII)’s Newport News Shipbuilding Division facility.
The incident occurred during a fuel transfer operation to the pre-commissioned John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), resulting in fuel entering the James River near 4101 Washington Avenue in Newport News.
Initial estimates placed the release at approximately 50 gallons; however, follow-up investigations and fuel tank measurements later determined the total volume discharged to be 7,749 gallons, which was later revised downward.
Odors and surface sheens were reported across portions of Newport News and Hampton.
The incident prompted a coordinated on-water investigation by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and fire departments from the cities of Newport News and Hampton.
The responsible party activated an oil spill response company to begin oil containment and recovery operations, including deploying containment boom, conducting boat-based recovery, and using a vacuum truck to remove captured product.
Favorable tides and winds assisted in containing the release, and a USCG drone overflight confirmed the effectiveness of response actions. Most recoverable product remains concentrated near the spill area.
Pollution Assessment teams from Coast Guard Sector Virginia, supported by Coast Guard Station Portsmouth boat crews and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), were utilized via land, air, and water to provide real-time tracking of the sheen and ensure rapid response to any shifting conditions.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) encourages residents to avoid shorelines where a fuel odor may exist, or visible fuel sheen can be seen. Boaters are cautioned to avoid open waters where there is a visible sheen or odor from the spill while cleanup is ongoing.
On February 17, VDEQ issued an operational update regarding cleanup progress. Since the initial spill on February 13, hundreds of gallons of jet fuel (JP5) have been removed from the James River, according to the agency. Oversight of the cleanup included representatives from local, state and federal agencies.
Estimates of the released fuel initially ranged from dozens of gallons to potentially up to 7,749 gallons, however, an evaluation by shipyard engineers has validated that at most, 4,722 gallons of fuel were released while the rest is accounted for in the ship’s piping system and storage tanks.
While clean-up efforts continue, it is important to note that due to the chemical nature of JP5 jet fuel which evaporates readily, residents may continue to notice odors as some of the fuel evaporates.
The Virginia Department of Health’s assessment found no evidence of impacts to drinking water sources and there have been no changes to classifications of shellfish growing areas.
Agencies participating in the cleanup effort include:
U.S. Coast Guard
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Virginia Department of Health
City of Hampton
City of Newport News
City of Suffolk
The cause of the spill remains under investigation.
source: Virginia Department of Emergency Management
The event was the second major spill in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in 2026. In January, a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed, causing an overflow of more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into Potomac River.
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