A plane returning to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday morning dumped jet fuel over an elementary school in Cudahy, dousing dozens of children and adults in the liquid.
Delta Flight 89, which is a Boeing 777, was on its way to Shanghai, China from LAX with more than 140 passengers on board, but the plane had to turn back shortly after takeoff. That’s when the plane released an unknown amount of fuel before its emergency landing.
Delta Air Lines released a statement on Tuesday evening stating that “Flight 89 from LAX to Shanghai experienced an engine issue requiring the aircraft to return quickly to LAX.”
“The aircraft landed safely after a release of fuel, which was required as part of normal procedure to reach a safe landing weight,” Delta’s statement reads. “Delta is in touch with Los Angeles World Airports and the L.A. County Fire Department as well as community leaders, and shares concerns regarding reports of minor injuries to adults and children at schools in the area.”
According to plane tracker FlightRadar24, the aircraft never went above 8,000 feet, and was only at about 2,300 feet when it passed over the area at 11:53 am.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department said that two classes were outside at Park Avenue Elementary when the jet fuel was released.
Josue Burgos, a sixth grader who was outside for physical education, said he looked up to see the plane as he felt the sensation of rain. But as soon as the liquid landed on his clothes, the odor was immediately noticeable.
“We came out and we were playing, and the airplane was outside,” Josue said. “We thought it was rain, but then we knew it was throwing gas on us, and everybody started to run.”
In total, 60 patients were treated for exposure to the jet fuel by more than 70 firefighters and paramedics that arrived at Park School Elementary. At least 20 of them were children.
L.A. City Fire treated 16 more people at 93rd Street Elementary in Green Meadows and Jordan High School in Long Beach.
Six people at Tweedy Elementary School, six at San Gabriel Elementary, and one person at Graham Elementary School were reportedly affected, as well.
