This information is preliminary and subject to change.
On November 12, 2025, about 9:16 p.m. local time, an Airgas Specialty Products cargo tank transporting Anhydrous Ammonia experienced a leak while parked in Weatherford, Oklahoma.[1] The Airgas driver had stopped at a Holiday Inn Express and Suites for the evening when he noticed the manway cover underneath the cargo tank was leaking.[2] The driver tried to stop the leak but was unsuccessful. The incident resulted in the complete loss of the remaining Anhydrous Ammonia shipment. A total of 74 individuals were injured as a result of the hazardous chemical leak, 4 of which were identified as in critical condition; another 500 to 1,000 individuals were evacuated from the area as a safety precaution. At the time of this report, damage estimates exceeded $100,000. The weather was 56°F with no precipitation.
Before the leak was identified, the MC330 cargo tank carrying Anhydrous Ammonia had just completed routine maintenance and was cleared for operational use. The tank was initially filled with Anhydrous Ammonia in Waxahachie, Texas, and three deliveries were carried out before the leak was identified, leaving the tank about 58% full after the third delivery. The leak continued until all contents were emptied from the tank.
After the incident, the cargo tank underwent standard cleaning and purging on scene of any residual hazardous material still within the cargo tank. Once the tank and surrounding areas were designated as safe, a replacement driver for Airgas transported the tanker to the Airgas facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
While on scene, National Transportation Safety Board investigators examined the surrounding area, the cargo tank itself, and surveillance video footage. Investigators collected shipping documents and reviewed training records, company safety policies and procedures, and the company’s emergency response plan. Once the truck was relocated to the Airgas facility, party members conducted an external visual inspection of the cargo tank.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on conducting interviews and detailed examination of the cargo tank, the cargo tank maintenance and repair history, the actions of the driver, and the on-scene safety practices of emergency response personnel.
Parties to the investigation include:
- the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration;
- the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
- Weatherford Police, Fire, and Emergency Management; and
- Airgas
[1]
Anhydrous Ammonia is a UN1005 hazardous material used for fertilizers, the manufacture of
chemicals and synthetic fibers, refrigerants, cleaning solutions, pollution control, and other industrial
uses. It is a hazard class (division) 2.2 poison gas when shipped domestically (2.3 when shipped internationally), colorless and liquefied under pressure. Its vapor is lighter than air and at certain concentrations by volume in air is flammable, toxic by inhalation, and corrosive.
[2] A manway is used to access the inside of the cargo tank to conduct routine inspections and
maintenance.