Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, registered TF-JXA, operating flight IV 572 (JET 572) from Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Milan Linate Airport. The flight was conducted under a wet-lease agreement between an Icelandic operator and an Italian airline. On board were 146 passengers and 6 crew members.
Incident Description
During the takeoff roll and after liftoff, the pilots noted a strong tendency for the aircraft to roll and yaw to the right. They corrected the movement and informed Catania air traffic control of a technical problem, deciding to return to the departure airport.
Crew Actions
The crew identified a significant fuel imbalance between the left and right wing tanks as the cause of the asymmetry. To regain lateral symmetry, they cross-fed fuel by connecting both engines to the tank with the larger fuel quantity. They also extended the landing gear to increase aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption, accelerating the reduction of imbalance.
Outcome
After approximately 50 minutes of flight, the fuel imbalance was reduced to within the manufacturer's allowable limits. As a precaution, the crew completed an emergency briefing for passengers. The aircraft landed safely on the runway at Catania about 54 minutes after departure.