The combat and transport helicopters at Gilze-Rijen Air Base are allowed to fly again. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense discovered that there was an increased concentration of iron oxide, rust for short, in the fuel storage tanks. The aircraft were therefore grounded for days.
After an investigation by the Ministry of Defense, it appears that the rust particles did not end up in the helicopters at Gilze-Rijen Air Base or the PC-7 training aircraft at Woensdrecht Air Base. That is why air traffic can now be resumed from the air bases.
The fuel storage tanks at Gilze-Rijen Air Base still need to be cleaned.
READ ALSO: Helicopters and planes grounded due to rust in kerosene storage tanks