Airplanes do not routinely dump their fuel before landing. Fuel dumping is a procedure that is only used in exceptional circumstances when the aircraft's weight needs to be reduced quickly for safety reasons, such as an engine failure or a hydraulic system malfunction. In most cases, airplanes land safely without needing to dump fuel.

Fuel dumping is a controversial practice because it releases unburned fuel into the atmosphere, which can contribute to air pollution and global warming. Due to these concerns, many airlines have adopted policies to minimize fuel dumping whenever possible.