Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $79 million to settle a lawsuit filed after one of its airplanes dumped its fuel in 2020 over schoolchildren and others in Los Angeles County.
The Associated Press reports that the Delta jet had departed from Los Angeles for Shanghai on Jan. 14, 2020, when it needed to return to Los Angeles International Airport. The plane landed safely after circling back over Los Angeles and dumping 15,000 gallons of fuel to reach a safe landing weight.
Los Angeles County firefighters were called to schools in the city of Cudahy where nearly 60 schoolchildren and teachers from several schools were examined for minor skin and lung irritations. None required hospitalization.
Shortly after, teachers from Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy sued the airline, saying they were exposed to jet fuel that fell like raindrops with “overwhelming” fumes. They described feeling the fuel on their clothes, skin and eyes. Later, several Cudahy homeowners also sued.
The teachers said they sought medical treatment after the incident and experienced physical and emotional pain.
Delta said in the lawsuit settlement that one of the plane’s two engines lost thrust shortly after takeoff and that the plane, which was carrying enough fuel for the 13-hour flight, exceeded its maximum landing weight by around 160,000 pounds.
The weight of a full load of fuel carries a risk of damaging a jetliner during landing, and the pilots decided to dump fuel “to reduce the serious risks of flying and landing an overweight airplane on just one engine.” the airline said in court documents.
Delta said in court documents that it agreed to the settlement without any admission of liability to avoid the legal expenses of a trial and “to eliminate the distraction and other burdens this litigation has caused to Delta’s business.”
