Repairs begin Wednesday at airport after fuel leaks from pipe

MILWAUKEE -- Repairs begin at Mitchell International Airport Wednesday, following an underground fuel spill near one of the runways. Jet fuel leaked from a pipeline into a nearby creek.

Tuesday, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele spoke out about the airport situation. "In a week, we've gone from identifying there's a leak, to getting very close to where the source is, to turning off the pipe and stopping it, without disrupting (the airport). Partnering with the DNR, the Coast Guard, the City of Milwaukee, the commitment to cleanup insofar as it's impacted any area - we're going to clean it up and get it paid for," Abele said.

Right now, there are skimmers on the creek near Howell and Layton picking up any fuel on the water. Crews will dig underground to find the exact problem in the pipes.

At this point, it's unclear what the cleanup will cost. It is not expected to impact airport traffic.