Teachers Sue Delta Airlines After Fuel Dump Affects Around 60 People

Just days after one of their planes allegedly dumped fuel on a Los Angeles-area elementary school, Delta Airlines has been slapped with a lawsuit.

TMZ reports that four teachers at that school have hired Gloria Allred in pursuit of damages for Delta's purported negligence.

Footage from Tuesday showed Delta Flight 89, which had been destined for Shanghai, China, turning back toward LAX for an emergency landing. As it did so, fuel spewed from the airliner so the plane could reduce its weight. The problem isn't that, so much, as it is that the fuel ended up soaking kids on the playground at Park Avenue Elementary in the southeast Los Angeles County city of Cudahy.

The suit, which was obtained by TMZ, states that an air traffic control responder asked the pilot if it was necessary to dump fuel prior to landing, to which the pilot allegedly said no.

The suit further alleges fuel was dumped without the pilot telling the control tower, and that it was done just 2,000 feet above the ground. Documents state that fuel needs to be dumped at an altitude of 5,000 feet or higher in order to evaporate before hitting the earth.

Teachers claim in the suit that they were coated in fuel, some of which got in their mouths and eyes. They state that medical treatement was necessary and they had trouble breathing.

At the time, multiple kids and adults were treated due to complaints of skin irriation.

"Students and staff were on the playground at the time and may have been sprayed by fuel or inhaled fumes," the Los Angeles Unified School District said in a statement. "Schools immediately called paramedics, who are on the scene and are treating anyone who is complaining of skin irritation or breathing problems."