Sonali Tiwary
Fuel fell on Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy on January 14, 2020. Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $78.75 million to settle claims from thousands of Los Angeles residents affected when Flight 89 dumped approximately 15,000 pounds of jet fuel over populated areas during an emergency return to LAX.
The Boeing 777-200 bound for Shanghai experienced engine trouble shortly after takeoff, forcing pilots to declare an emergency. Court documents reveal the fuel dump occurred over densely populated areas while the aircraft was flying at low altitude over Los Angeles neighborhoods. The release affected an estimated 38,000 properties, including multiple schools where children were outside.
“I began feeling a light drizzle on my hair, my face, my body — I thought it was rain. And then I caught the scent of fuel,” said one teacher who witnessed the incident, as reported in local news coverage.
The settlement, filed in late August 2025 in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, establishes a non-reversionary fund of $78.75 million. After legal fees, approximately $50.6 million will be available to compensate affected property owners and residents who filed claims for trespass, nuisance, and negligence.
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Verita Global, LLC has been appointed as the settlement administrator. Affected residents can file claims through the settlement process, with final approval scheduled for a hearing on March 2, 2026.
Delta’s position maintains that the crew “acted in compliance with FAA-approved emergency procedures,” though the settlement allows the airline to avoid “uncertainty, distraction, and cost of litigation” without admitting liability.
Aviation fuel jettison is treated as a non-normal procedure in standard flight operations manuals. FAA Air Traffic Control guidance (JO 7110.65) addresses routing and separation for fuel dumping and, in IFR conditions, assigns altitudes at least 2,000 feet above the highest obstacle within 5 miles. Industry guidance generally recommends unpopulated areas and sufficient altitude to promote evaporation before reaching the ground.
Approximately 56 children and adults received medical treatment for minor skin irritation and respiratory issues following exposure, though no hospitalizations were reported. Jet A fuel, the type typically used in U.S. commercial aircraft, contains hydrocarbons that can cause temporary skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation upon direct contact.
“The settlement compensates hard-working families who asked only for respect and just treatment,” said attorney Filippo Marchino, representing the plaintiffs. “While no amount fully erases their experience, this provides fair and reasonable compensation.”
According to court filings, the Federal Aviation Administration investigated the incident and did not find wrongdoing by the pilots. However, plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that while emergency procedures allow for fuel dumps, alternative options existed that could have minimized ground exposure.
The settlement covers residents and property owners in the affected areas who experienced fuel contact with their person, property, or both. Claims will be processed by Verita Global in accordance with the Court-approved Plan of Allocation.
Delta Air Lines agreed to a $78.75 million settlement over the 2020 Los Angeles fuel dump incident, affecting thousands of properties, with final court approval pending in 2026.
