Delta settles $79 million lawsuit over 2020 Los Angeles jet fuel dump

The settlement awaits judicial approval and will net about $50 million for homeowners and residents of roughly 38,000 homes after legal fees are deducted. Each home is expected to receive around $1,300. As part of the agreement, Delta will collaborate with homeowners on testing for any lingering residue or health risks resulting from the fuel dump and provide certificates confirming property safety. Marchino emphasized this outcome by stating it "restores value in their biggest asset."

The Federal Aviation Administration investigated the incident and cleared Delta's pilots of wrongdoing. The agency requires pilots who intend to dump fuel to notify air traffic control about details such as location and altitude so that dumps typically occur over less populated areas or offshore at higher altitudes—measures designed to minimize ground exposure.

In this case, reports indicated that Delta’s flight crew released fuel at an altitude under 3,000 feet over heavily populated neighborhoods rather than offshore or at higher altitudes as is standard practice.

Delta has since retired all Boeing 777 aircraft from its fleet; flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai now use Airbus A350s. The specific aircraft involved was delivered new to Delta in March 1999 and left its fleet in June 2023.

Delta remains one of America’s largest airlines with extensive operations out of LAX including new international services planned for Hong Kong and Melbourne as well as ongoing flights across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central America, and Australia.

A final approval hearing for the settlement is pending before a judge.