Solis Responds to $78.75M Settlement Over Delta’s 2020 Fuel Dump
LOS ANGELES, Calif.(August 28, 2025) — Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement today in response to the $78.75 million settlement announced this week over Delta Flight 89’s 2020 fuel dump incident:
“The $78.75 million settlement announced this week in response to Delta Flight 89’s 2020 fuel dump is a long-overdue acknowledgment of the harm inflicted on working families, schoolchildren, and educators in Bell, Cudahy, and surrounding Southeast Los Angeles communities.
What happened that day was nothing short of an environmental injustice. Jet fuel was dumped without warning over neighborhoods already overburdened by chronic air pollution, heavy industry, and decades of environmental neglect. This was the result of poor judgment and disregard for the health and safety of communities that have historically been treated as expendable.
The fuel rained down on playgrounds, schoolyards, and homes. Children were burned. Teachers were forced to care for students in crisis with no notice and no protective equipment. Families were left to navigate the aftermath with few answers and no accountability.
My staff responded immediately to the emergency that day, coordinating with local agencies and school districts to ensure impacted children and educators received care. I also introduced a motion calling for a full investigation, public meetings in impacted neighborhoods, and ensuring those meetings are accessible to everyone. The motion also called for a Community Benefits Package developed by the communities themselves to help begin the healing process. I advocated for this package to include real investments in schools, job training, mental health services, and more—things these communities have long been denied.
We must ensure this never happens again. The settlement is only the first step in demanding stronger oversight of flight safety procedures, transparency from federal regulators, and a commitment from airlines to prioritize community health.”
