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Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $78.75 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit after one of its jets dumped thousands of gallons of fuel over Los Angeles and Orange County neighbourhoods in January 2020. The incident occurred when Delta Flight 89, a Boeing 777 bound for Shanghai, had to return to LAX due to engine trouble shortly after takeoff. To reduce the aircraft’s weight for a safe emergency landing, pilots discharged approximately 15,000 pounds of jet fuel at a low altitude, resulting in minor injuries to dozens of people on the ground and widespread property damage concerns.
Residents and property owners sued Delta, arguing that the fuel should have been released at a higher altitude or over the ocean tominimisee exposure, rather than over densely populated areas. While Delta denied wrongdoing and emphasised that the crew followed federal safety protocols and FAA-approved training, it settled to avoid the uncertainty and cost of prolonged litigation. The Federal Aviation Administration cleared the crew of misconduct after its investigation.
If approved by the judge, the net settlement is expected to be about $50.6 million, covering around 38,000 affected properties. Plaintiffs’ attorney Filippo Marchino called the deal “fair and just,” giving compensation and closure to families and restoring confidence in their homes. Delta has agreed to additional measures, including collaborating with local clients on ongoing safety and testing efforts.
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