Flight to Italy cancelled when fuel leaks from wing on runway

NEWARK, N.J. – A United Airlines flight bound for Italy has been cancelled after fuel gushed from one of its wings as it taxied to the runway at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The spill occurred Tuesday night. Witnesses said the fuel came from the edge of the plane’s left wing, but it wasn’t clear what caused the leak, where it originated or how much fuel was spilled.

Authorities say Flight 170 was scheduled to depart for Venice at 6:55 p.m. Passengers aboard the plane were put up in a hotel overnight, and the airline was hoping to book them on a new flight Wednesday.