Fuel concerns increase as crews work to remove Boeing 737 out of St. Johns River

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board went back out into the water Monday, securing a plan to remove the Miami charter plane out of St. Johns River.

While the plane has been in the water, investigators say it has leaked jet fuel. Barriers were placed around the plane to contain fuels.

TRENDING: 

They said they believe about 1,200 gallons of fuel is left on the plane that crews will work to drain.

After fuel escaped the plane and lingered in the water, the Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Florida expressed concerns about the wildlife in the water.

“It could be a danger to everything. It’s an environmental concern all the way around,” Wanda Turner said.

St. Johns River Keeper said dolphins, manatees and all kinds of fish live in St. Johns River. Turner said this exposure could also affect other nearby wildlife that feed off of these animals.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories

“It’s toxic and it’s going to affect all of the fish and not just that but it’s going to affect all of the animals that rely on those fish for food,” Turner said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told Action News Jax they could not begin to speculate what damage what caused by the fuel.

A spokesperson said they are reaching out to NTSB to find what fuel was in the plane to find what affect it could have on wildlife.

Cox Media Group