U.S. authorities plan to investigate why a Delta airliner with engine trouble dumped jet fuel over a densely populated area near Los Angeles while making an emergency return.
It doused dozens of schoolchildren and adults in a smelly vapor. Emergency officials said all of the injuries were minor and nobody was transported to the hospital.
The Delta Air Lines flight to Shanghai turned back to Los Angeles International Airport only minutes after taking off Tuesday.
The pilot reported a stalled engine compressor, which can reduce thrust or even lead to a fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration says procedures call for dumping fuel over unpopulated areas.
But an aerospace consultant says the pilot can deviate from those rules for safety reasons.
All the affected schools were cleaned and reopened Wednesday.
In a statement Tuesday evening, Delta said it shared "concerns regarding reported minor injuries to adults and children at a school in the area.”
