Delta Dumps 15,000 Gallons Over Schools, Gets $79M Get Out of Jail Free
In January 2020, Delta Flight 89, a Shanghai-bound Boeing 777, decided mid-air that returning to LAX meant dropping 15,000 gallons of jet fuel... directly onto tens of thousands of homes and schools in Southern California, including an elementary school where 20 kids and 11 adults scored free eye-irritation treatments. Instead of typical over-ocean jettisoning, pilots figured ‘why not over people?’ They skipped telling air traffic control and flew as low as 2,000 feet — FAA’s recommended fuel-dump altitude is 5,000. FAA said pilots were 'proper,' but Delta’s now coughing up nearly $79 million in a messy 5-year soap opera-end settlement, avoiding admitting any blame with attorney fees trimming the hits. Each affected property owner could pocket a whopping $889 — barely enough to buy a PlayStation but enough to say, 'Thanks for the shower, Delta!'
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Only Delta could turn an emergency jet fuel dump into a multi-million-dollar lottery for 20 kids with itchy eyes and 67 irritated souls. Who needs ocean safety when you can shower a SCHOOL and dodge responsibility like a pro?
Delta Flight 89: too heavy to land so it went full Niagara Falls with 15,000 gallons of jet fuel on LA. Pilots forgot the memo on altitude and discretion, but hey, FAA says they were 'proper.'
Plot twist: Dumping fuel over playgrounds is apparently just another LA scenic tour. Twenty kids treated for 'minor injuries' — basically a free spa day courtesy of Delta’s unplanned aerosol mist.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 8/29/2025 | Author: Pete Syme
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