Delta Flight 89 en route LAX for emergency landing dumps jet fuel on school playground in Cudahy — 17 children, 9 adults treated
L.A. City Fire says 2 classes were outside when liquid jet fuel rained down on them from the sky shortly before noon Pacific time.
BREAKING NEWS: Delta Airlines flight 89 from Los Angeles to Shanghai was nearing LAX in an emergency landing sequence when it dumped fuel on a school playground, and the kids and teachers who were outside.
" Authorities say 17 children and 9 adults were treated for minor injuries.
" The FAA has declared an emergency.
" Delta says the jet experienced an engine issue requiring return to LAX.
" Plane landed safely after the emergency fuel release to reduce landing weight.
As of 130PM Pacific time, LA County Fire Department said,
"Patient count updated to 17 children, 9 adults. All minor injuries with no transports to local hospital from school. There are no evacuation orders for the immediate area. Substance was confirmed JET FUEL."
Parents are asked to refer to the school for plans to pick up their child.
UPDATE*** Patient count updated to 17 children, 9 adults. All minor injuries w/ no transports to local hospital from school. There are no evacuation orders for the immediate area. Substance was confirmed JET FUEL.
Refer to school regarding plans for child pick-up. #LACoFD
- L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 14, 2020
Video below from eyewitness @SujeyHernandez.
Caught this in Bell Gardens over my house NEWS SAID IT DROPPED FUEL OVER AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CUDAHY @KTLA @FOXLA @cnnbrk @UniNoticias @NBCLA @ABC7 @ABC @NBCNews @TelemundoNews pic.twitter.com/VG3HBpyYtn
- Sujey Hernandez (@SujeyHernandez) January 14, 2020
Delta Airlines told reporters within an hour of the disaster, "Shortly after takeoff, Flight 89 from LAX to Shanghai experienced an engine issue requiring the aircraft to return to LAX. The aircraft landed safely after an emergency fuel release to reduce landing weight."
An airplane returning to Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday morning dropped jet fuel onto a school playground, striking several students at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, officials said. Delta Flight 89 had taken off from LAX with 149 passengers on board and was en route to Shanghai when it turned around and headed back to the L.A. airport.
"Shortly after takeoff, Flight 89 from LAX to Shanghai experienced an engine issue requiring the aircraft to return to LAX," Delta spokesperson Adrian Gee said. "The aircraft landed safely after an emergency fuel release to reduce landing weight." The Los Angeles County Fire Department said that more than 70 firefighters and paramedics are at the school assessing multiple patients. Los Angeles City Fire is also at the scene.
Here's the flight map via @stiles. Delta Flight 89 took off from LAX, en route to Shanghai, before quickly turning around and dropping jet fuel over an elementary school https://t.co/G5duAwBV2V pic.twitter.com/UV2UbbaSeh
- Colleen Shalby (@CShalby) January 14, 2020
From the @FAANews:
"Delta Air Lines Flight 89 declared an emergency after departing from LAX, returned to the airport and landed without incident. The FAA is aware of and looking into reports that children at a school east of LAX are being treated for fuel exposure." https://t.co/JX9KTwvy3O
- Elly Yu (@ellywyu) January 14, 2020
Video of the fuel dump, reported to be @Delta flight #89 LAX to Shanghai, had to return to LAX after engine issue. https://t.co/XReWLQg9Cm
- Doug Dunbar (@cbs11doug) January 14, 2020
Shortly before this plane landed at LAX, it dumped what's believed to be fuel on an elementary school playground, hitting several students. LA County Fire said 70+ are on scene assessing multiple patients https://t.co/G5duAwTvUt pic.twitter.com/LsJaAOTfpg
- Colleen Shalby (@CShalby) January 14, 2020
Aircraft fuel reportedly dumped on school kids.
Delta flight 89 was dumping fuel earlier when diverting back to LAX. @KNX1070 https://t.co/MeFh0uSD8O
- Mike Simpson (@KNXSimpson) January 14, 2020
IMAGE - Emergency vehicles converged on Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy after a jet dropped fuel onto a playground. (KTLA)