Delta Air Lines Flight 89

Delta Air Lines Flight 89 was a scheduled international flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. On January 14, 2020, the Boeing 777-232ER conducting the flight had engine problems shortly after takeoff; while returning to the origin airport for an emergency landing, it dumped fuel over populated areas adjacent to the city of Los Angeles, resulting in skin and lung irritation in at least 56 people on the ground and triggering a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation. The aircraft landed safely with no injuries to passengers or crew.

Flight

Flight 89 was a regularly scheduled Delta Air Lines flight from LAX to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. On January 14, 2020, the Boeing 777-200ER widebody jet aircraft operating as Flight 89 departed from LAX at 11:32 a.m. The aircraft had 149 passengers and 16 crew members on board.

To reach Shanghai, the aircraft would be carrying enough fuel to exceed its certified maximum landing weight, increasing its landing distance and risking structural damage if fuel was not dumped. However, according to retired 777 pilot and CNN aviation analyst Les Abend, many runways at major airports can safely accommodate a landing by an overweight 777 in dry conditions.

Incident

Minutes after departing LAX and initiating a climb over the Pacific Ocean, the pilots reported a compressor stall in the aircraft's right Rolls-Royce Trent 892 engine. Air traffic controllers asked Flight 89's pilots if they wanted to remain over the ocean to dump fuel, but the pilots declined, saying "we've got it under control... we're not critical." Controllers again asked, "OK, so you don't need to hold or dump fuel or anything like that?", to which the pilots responded, "Negative." The pilots requested Runway 25R, the longest runway at the airport. Flight 89 turned back towards land and headed towards LAX to make an emergency landing.

While over land and approaching LAX for an emergency landing, the plane dumped fuel over a five-mile portion of the Los Angeles county area, including five elementary schools and a high school. The most affected area was Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, where several students were doused with jet fuel. Students at elementary schools in South Gate were also affected. Children who were in a physical education class thought it was rain before seeing the plane above them. CBS News reported that, based on the expert opinion of a former Boeing 777 captain, Flight 89 would have likely dumped 15,000 – 20,000 USgal of fuel. Shortly after completing the fuel dump, the aircraft landed safely.