The real reason a C-17 was ‘on fire’ at RAAF Base Amberley today

The Department of Defence has revealed the reason this military aircraft was ‘on fire’ at RAAF Base Amberley earlier today.

The Defence department has confirmed smoke coming from an aircraft at the Amberley Air Force Base today was part of routine maintenance.

A photo posted to social media about 12.20pm today with a caption describing it as a “C17 on fire at Amberley” showed tall pillars of white smoke billowing in front of an aircraft, with two fire engines parked nearby.

But a Department of Defence spokeswoman said the smoke was expelled from an engine exhaust during routine maintenance.

“During routine maintenance following the installation of an overhauled Pratt and Whitney F117 engine to a No. 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster III at RAAF Base Amberley, smoke was expelled from the engine exhaust,” she said.

A Department of Defence spokeswoman has confirmed smoke coming from a military aircraft was being expelled from an engine exhaust during routine maintenance, as can be seen in this still from a video. Picture: The Pineapple Express/Facebook

“This is expected on the first engine start given the engine fuel system has been primed with preservation oil. The white smoke is a result of preservation oil burning off during the de-preservation activity.”

The spokeswoman said base firefighters attended as per procedure.

“RAAF Base Amberley fire services attendance was prearranged for the procedure as required by C-17A Standard Operating Procedures (USAF) Technical Orders, to mitigate engine fire risk for any engine run with cowls open (when engine cowls are open, the in-built fire suppression system is not effective),” she said.

“No intervention was required in this instance from fire services.”