California teachers sue after jetliner dumps fuel on schools

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By STEFANIE DAZIO

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four teachers from a Los Angeles-area school sued Delta Air Lines on Friday, saying they were exposed to jet fuel when a plane with engine trouble dumped its fuel over a densely populated area, including several schools, while making an emergency return to the airport.

At a news conference, the teachers described the fuel as drizzling down like raindrops with “overwhelming” fumes. They said their panicked students screamed and cried.

“The plaintiffs could feel the fuel on their clothes, their flesh, their eyes and their skin,” said the teachers’ attorney, Gloria Allred, who noted that her firm may add teachers or students to the lawsuit.

“Fuel penetrated their mouths and noses as well, producing a lasting and severe irritation, and a lasting and a noxious taste and smell,” Allred said.



Attorney Gloria Allred, lower left, listens as one of four Park Avenue Elementary School teachers talks about her experiences when a Delta Airlines jet dumped fuel over their school Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at a Los Angeles news conference Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. The four plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Delta - Lisette Barajas, Laura Guzman, Mariana De La Torre and Anabel Samperio - appeared at the news conference but declined to be identified individually when they spoke. The teachers plan to file a lawsuit after a commercial airliner with engine trouble dumped jet fuel over a densely populated area. (AP Photo/Stefanie Dazio)


Read more: https://apnews.com/020cc162d06034820c51c4fb43c45b08

[Ohiogal]

1. I saw this on the tee vee

Totally unacceptable! What was this jet pilot thinking, dumping fuel in a heavily populated area! I’m glad they’re suing.

[Baclava]

3. If they didn't dump fuel during the emergency landing, what would the outcome have been?

Crash landing with a too heavy fuel load?

If you were on that plane and the pilot announced they had a problem with one their engines and would have to return to LAX to land immediately, but, oh, first, we will be circling out over the ocean for 20 minutes to dump fuel, away from populated areas, keep your seat belts fastened, and make sure you know where your life vests are, would you feel better?

[Quackers]

4. It's a requirement.

It was an international flight, fully fueled, fully loaded. It declared an emergency after taking off. Takeoff weight is allowed to be heavier than landing weight, especially on international flights where more fuel is needed.

Attempting to land an overweight aircraft, especially while under an emergency decree, can result in a crash. The actions taken by the pilot were correct. It sucks people were injured by the fuel, but it would suck a lot more if that jet turned into a fireball while trying to land. This is one of the biggest problems with people living near airports. In a perfect world, there would be no people or buildings near an aircrafts flight path.

[Codeine]

7. No choice.

The plane had to land because of engine failure. They were too heavy to land so they dumped fuel — it happens all the time and normally it dissipates, but this time it didn’t.

[PuppyBismark]

10. Completely Delta's Fault

The 777-200 can fly just fine on one engine and could have been vectored over the ocean at a high altitude to dump fuel. In fact ATC asked them if they needed to dump fuel and they said no. They are not to dump fuel at low altitudes. They never told ATC they were dumping fuel. If you want to get more detailed information watch these:

[IronLionZion]

2. Jet fuel is nasty stuff with all sorts of health effects

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_fuel#Health_effects
Evidence of the health effects of jet fuels comes from reports on both temporary or persisting biological from acute, subchronic, or chronic exposure of humans or animals to kerosene-based hydrocarbon fuels, or the constituent chemicals of these fuels, or to fuel combustion products. The effects studied include: cancer, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, immune and hematological disorders, neurological effects, visual and hearing disorders, renal and hepatic diseases, cardiovascular conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, genotoxic and metabolic effects.

[Angleae]

18. Jet fuel is more like diesel.

AvGas, which is used in most propeller powered aircraft is high-octane gasoline. They are not interchangeable.

[Coventina]

5. This is a tough situation. The pilot did what he had to do.

This probably is a case where government regulation could help.
Maybe have a compensation fund for situations like this?

[PuppyBismark]

12. No the pilots did not have to do it when they did.

The Boeing 777-200 flies just fine on one engine and the airplane could have stayed at a high altitude and dumped fuel over the ocean. Remember this flight took off from LAX to the west over the ocean. Delta will have to pay for a issues and I suspect the pilots, there were three, may lose their jobs.

[Bearware]

14. And if there is a problem common to both engines that you find out about while dumping fuel?

If they lost the other engine when they were coming back for a landing after dumping fuel, they could have crashed into a school or maybe several.

When a crew reacts to a serious emergency with many lives at risk but no one is killed or seriously injured, second-guessing is not helpful.

P.S. I thought the aircraft was at 8000' and would have to climb substantially on the remaining engine to dump fuel according to the rules.

[PuppyBismark]

15. 8000 over the Pacific Ocean is acceptable

I suggest you watch the two videos above and will learn that there was no serious emergency.

[Codeine]

6. No bad guys here.

The plane had an emergency and had to dump fuel. Usually the fuel dissipates but not this time. It’s not as if the airliner deliberately crop dusted a school.

The students and teachers are unlikely to experience any deleterious long term effects from their exposure but they deserve to be compensated for their discomfort and anxiety. They’ll sue, the airline will settle, and the situation will be resolved.

No need for outrage; just a bad situation with no easy decisions. Now they clean up the mess and move on — that’s just part of doing business.

[VarryOn]

11. I agree...

I can’t even believe this is an outrage. Sometimes bad things have to happen. The outcome was much better than a crash.

Of course, Gloria Allred can only help matters. Someone smells “payday” rather than jet A fumes.

[Rebl2]

8. There was probably

a less populated area the pilot could have done this.

[Igel]

9. Doubt it.

Between there and the airport it's solid city.

The only real option was to fly out over the water. The malfunction, people are saying after the fact, wasn't that serious.

The dump lasted a few miles and hit a few schools--but the wider the dispersion area, the less concentrated the fuel would have been. And at least one of the schools was a mile or so off the plane's path so it probably just got fumes and perhaps fine spray. It's always hard to get the facts when nerves are on edge.

[Codeine]

13. The LA Basin?

Probably not. Especially with an engine failure limiting range.

[Quackers]

16. That's one of the things I hate about real estate

Check this image out. People build houses right up to the side of the airport. Add in all of the other air traffic in the area and it become overwhelming real quick in an emergency.