LOS ANGELES – Firefighters were treating 17 children and nine adults for minor injuries on Tuesday (Jan 14) after a commercial airliner landing at Los Angeles International airport (LAX) apparently dumped fuel on their school playground, county fire officials said.
“(Firefighters) working to confirm substance dropped by aircraft although initial reports stated smell of jet fuel in area,” the Los Angeles County Fire Department said on Twitter.
The department said in a second tweet that “70 firefighters and paramedics on-scene and committed to providing care for those injured.”
The fire department did not immediately identify the school.
The Los Angeles Times reported that it was Park Avenue Elementary School in the Los Angeles suburb of Cudahy, on the flight path to LAX.
The Times said that police could be seen driving behind the jet with sirens as it landed at LAX.
Caught this in Bell Gardens over my house NEWS SAID IT DROPPED FUEL OVER AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CUDAHY @KTLA @FOXLA @cnnbrk @UniNoticias @NBCLA @ABC7 @ABC @NBCNews @TelemundoNews pic.twitter.com/VG3HBpyYtn
— Sujey Hernandez (@SujeyHernandez) January 14, 2020
UPDATE*** Patient count updated to 17 children, 9 adults. All minor injuries w/ no transports to local hospital from school. There are no evacuation orders for the immediate area. Substance was confirmed JET FUEL.
Refer to school regarding plans for child pick-up. #LACoFD
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 14, 2020
