Troubled Delta flight returns to LAX, possibly dumping fuel that leads to skin irritations and minor injuries to people on ground
Troubled Delta flight returns to LAX, possibly dumping fuel that leads to skin irritations and minor injuries to people on ground
by Nathaniel Percy
A Delta flight bound for Shanghai, China had to return to Los Angeles International Airport shortly after takeoff because of a mechanical issue – and apparently dumped fuel that caused skin irritations among children and staff who were outside a Cudahy elementary school, authorities said.
Delta Flight 89 landed safely at LAX just before noon, LAX spokesman Heath Montgomery said. The airline had taken off just after 11:30 a.m., according to FlightAware, a third-party website that tracks commercial flights.
No onboard injuries were reported, with the plane able to taxi back to the gate under its own power, Montgomery said. The specific mechanical issue was not known.
Less than 15 minutes after the plane landed, Los Angeles city firefighters were called to the Ninety-Third Street Elementary School in the 300 block of East 93rd Street in Cudahy for reports of possible fuel falling onto the campus after an aircraft flew over the school, spokesman Nicholas Prange said.
Authorities had not yet confirmed the fuel was from that specific flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of children being treated at a school east of LAX for possible fuel exposure.
Two classes were outside at the time, Prange said, adding that one student was being treated by paramedics.
About 70 firefighters were at nearby Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy to provide care for others affected by the probable fuel dump, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
As of 1:10 p.m., 17 children and nine adults at Park Avenue Elementary were being treated for minor injuries, said Leslie Lua, spokeswoman for the County Fire Department.
None of the 26 patients were hospitalized and no evacuations were ordered, Los Angeles County fire officials said.
This is a developing story and will be updated with further details when they become available.
All credit goes to Nathaniel Percy Originally published on https://www.dailynews.com
