Delta Jet Dumped Fuel Over L.A. Without Warning, FAA Says
- Providing notice is common practice but not required by rules
- Discharge occurred too low for full atomization after release
This article is for subscribers only.
The crew of a Delta Air Lines Inc. flight that experienced engine trouble shortly after taking off from Los Angeles failed to notify air traffic controllers before they dumped fuel over a densely populated area that included several elementary schools, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
While there is no regulation requiring such notice, it’s common practice so that flight controllers can direct the plane to an appropriate area to drop the fuel, the FAA said in an email Wednesday. The discharge from the Delta jet sickened 67 children and adults, although none was hospitalized.