for a checkie to not be able to identify a fuel leak by simply referencing FOD before take off from their fuel check, fuel loaded and fuel used is concerning also.
I’m not making comment on how this was handled one way or the other, but I do think that fuel imbalances and leak identification on the 737 is something that is more difficult than most people assume. I’m not sure why this is the case, I have experienced confusion when trying to determine if we have a leak and my takeaway is that the pilots have to be very very diligent and methodical in stepping through the checklists and that the (totaliser fuel + remaining fuel) calculation is rarely going to be perfect, two or three hundred kg’s is to be expected. I take a ‘there but for the grace of God…’ approach to it.
Does anyone know if there was visible moisture/ precipitation at the field on the day?