Delta Airlines settles lawsuit for $79M over fuel dumped onto homes and schools in Southeast LA

After five years of negotiations, Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $78.75 million to resolve a class action lawsuit stemming from a 2020 jet fuel dump that affected tens of thousands of SoCal properties, particularly homes and schools in Southeast L.A. County.

On Jan. 14, 2020, Delta pilots flying from Los Angeles to Shanghai released about 15,000 gallons of fuel after a plane malfunction. The jet, which was carrying more than 100 passengers, returned to LAX after dumping the fuel to avoid an emergency landing.

The fuel affected an estimated 160,000 residents — including students and staff members at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, many of whom were on the playground when they were doused. At Park Avenue alone, 20 children and 11 adults reported injuries. Injuries were also reported at schools in South Gate, Downey and South L.A.

What's in the settlement?

In court documents, the airline agreed to the settlement “without any admission of liability . . . to avoid the significant legal expenses that it would incur by litigating the case through trial . . . and to eliminate the distraction and other burdens this litigation has caused to Delta's business.”

In a statement, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said the settlement “is a long-overdue acknowledgment of the harm inflicted on working families, schoolchildren, and educators.”

“Jet fuel was dumped without warning over neighborhoods already overburdened by chronic air pollution, heavy industry, and decades of environmental neglect,” she added. “We must ensure this never happens again.”

The proposed preliminary settlement was filed this week in Los Angeles federal court, which requires a judge's approval. The parties have selected class action services firm Verita Global to develop notices and administer claims.