$78.75M Delta jet fuel dumping class action settlement

Delta Air Lines agreed to pay $78.75 million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims it harmed property owners and residents by jettisoning fuel over Southern California during an emergency flight.

The Delta settlement benefits individuals who owned, resided in or rented properties in the area affected by Delta Flight DL89 on Jan. 14, 2020. A list of affected properties can be found on the settlement website.

Plaintiffs in the jet fuel dumping class action lawsuit claim Delta Air Lines harmed property owners and residents when it jettisoned fuel over Southern California during an emergency flight. The jettisoned fuel allegedly harmed properties and residents in the area.

Delta Air Lines is an airline company that offers flights around the world.

Delta has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $78.75 million class action settlement to resolve the allegations.

Under the terms of the Delta settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on their property type and the amount of fuel that fell in their area.

The settlement fund will be divided into two parts: 67% of the net settlement fund will be used for owner payments while the remaining 33% will be used for resident payments. Payments will be divided equally among all class members in each group. Exact payment amounts will vary depending on the number of participating class members and the amount available for each group.

The settlement also includes a joint declaration from the parties’ experts. This declaration includes laboratory testing results that evaluate whether the maximum amount of jet fuel reaching the ground during the emergency jettison event would be detectable and persist beyond the event.

According to the testing summary found on the settlement website, “any jet fuel that may have once contacted your property as a result of the Delta 89 incident likely would not have been detectable in soil within one hour of the jettison and would not persist in the soil or cause any health risk or harm to the property.”

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Feb. 6, 2026.

The final approval hearing for the jet fuel dumping settlement is scheduled for May 18, 2026.

To receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Feb. 6, 2026.

Who’s Eligible

Individuals who owned, resided in or rented properties in the area affected by Delta Flight DL89 on Jan. 14, 2020. A list of affected properties can be found on the settlement website.

Potential Award

Varies.

Proof of Purchase

Proof of ownership (title, deed, property tax records, mortgage documents, etc.) or proof of residence (utility bills, lease agreements, bank statements, etc.)

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

02/06/2026

Case Name

In Re: Delta Air Lines Inc., Case No. 2:20-cv-00786 JAK, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Final Hearing

05/18/2026

Settlement Website

DL89Settlement.com

Claims Administrator

Delta Air Lines Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 301132
Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132
[email protected]
833-419-4070

Class Counsel

Filippo Marchino
THE X-LAW GROUP PC

Defense Counsel

Jeffrey J. Ellis
CLYDE & CO US LLP

David K. Willingham
Arwen Johnson
KING & SPALDING LLP