US aircraft dumps jet fuel on playground near LA, leaving 26 with minor injuries

LOS ANGELES - An airplane returning to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday morning dropped jet fuel onto a school playground, leaving some people with minor injuries, according to local media reports.

The airplane, Delta Flight 89, had taken off from LAX with 149 passengers on board and was en route to Shanghai when it turned around and headed back to the airport, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"Shortly after takeoff, Flight 89 from LAX to Shanghai experienced an engine issue requiring the aircraft to return to LAX," Delta spokesperson Adrian Gee said. "The aircraft landed safely after an emergency fuel release to reduce landing weight."

Seventeen children and nine adults at an elementary school in Cudahy, located in the southeast of Los Angeles County, were treated for minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No one was taken to a hospital, and no evacuations were initiated.

The agency's spokesperson Nicholas Prange said two classes were outside when the liquid rained down shortly before noon. Students and staff were instructed to go indoors.

In a statement, US Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said Delta Air Lines Flight 89 declared an emergency after departing from the airport, then returned to the airport and "landed without incident."