Delta $78.75M Flight DL89 Fuel Dump Settlement, Claims Closed, Final Order Pending

Delta Air Lines agreed to pay $78,750,000 to settle a class action over the January 14, 2020 fuel jettison by Delta Flight DL89 over Southern California. The claim deadline was February 6, 2026, so new claims are closed. At the September 28, 2026 hearing, U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt tentatively approved the settlement, and a final order is expected later, according to City News Service reporting. No payment date has been confirmed.

Delta Flight DL89 Fuel Dump Settlement: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Settlement Fund	$78,750,000
Case	In re Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Case Number	2:20-cv-00786-JAK (SKx)
Court	U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Judge	John A. Kronstadt
Incident	Delta Flight DL89 fuel jettison, January 14, 2020
Who Was Eligible	People who owned, lived in or rented qualifying properties in the class area on January 14, 2020
Claim, Opt-Out and Objection Deadline	February 6, 2026 (passed)
Final Approval Hearing	September 28, 2026 (tentative approval; final order pending)
Estimated Net Fund	About $50,590,000
Official Website	dl89settlement.com

What Happened on Delta Flight DL89 Over Southern California?

Delta Flight DL89 left Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for Shanghai on January 14, 2020. It had engine trouble shortly after takeoff and returned to LAX. Before landing, the crew jettisoned fuel to reduce the plane’s landing weight.

The plaintiffs alleged the fuel fell on homes, schools and other property across Southeast Los Angeles County, including Cudahy and Bell. They argued the pilots should not have released fuel at a low altitude over populated areas. Delta denies wrongdoing and blames a mechanical problem, and it says the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the pilots. The first lawsuit was filed on January 24, 2020, and the actions were combined in the Central District of California.

Who Qualified for the Delta DL89 Fuel Dump Settlement?

The class covers people who, on January 14, 2020, owned, lived in or rented a property on the court-approved list of affected properties. Plaintiffs estimated about 38,000 properties and 160,000 residents were affected.

The notice excludes Delta and related parties, class counsel, certain court and government personnel, and anyone who filed their own lawsuit against Delta over the fuel jettison, other than the four named plaintiffs. It also excludes people who sold an affected property after January 14, 2020 without telling the buyer about the fuel jettison.

How Is the Delta $78.75 Million Settlement Money Divided?

The settlement notice estimates the fund will be about $50,590,000 after court-approved attorneys’ fees, costs, administration expenses and service awards. That net fund is split:

• 67% to qualifying property owners, divided equally per property.
• 33% to qualifying residents and renters, divided equally among valid resident claims.

Class counsel Filippo Marchino told City News Service the class would receive about $51.2 million if all fees and costs are approved. Reports on the preliminary approval motion said class counsel would seek up to about $24 million in fees and $2 million in costs. The court decides those amounts.

There is no guaranteed payment per person, because it depends on how many valid claims were filed.

Can You Still File a Delta Flight DL89 Settlement Claim?

No. The deadline to file a claim, opt out or object was February 6, 2026. The official settlement website says filing a claim was the only way to get paid. Be careful with third-party sites that still advertise the Delta settlement as open.

If you filed a timely claim, use the contact information on the official settlement website for questions about your claim.

Has the Delta Fuel Dump Settlement Received Final Approval?

Not yet, based on reporting available on September 29, 2026. The final approval hearing was moved from May 18, 2026 to September 28, 2026. At that hearing, Judge Kronstadt tentatively approved the settlement, and class counsel said the parties await the court’s final order.

We will update this article when the final order is entered. Until then, tentative approval is not final approval.

When Will Delta DL89 Settlement Payments Be Sent?

There is no confirmed date. The official FAQ warns that if the court approves the settlement, appeals could delay payment, possibly by more than a year. One settlement summary site reports that payments would go out about 110 days after final approval if there is no appeal, but that timing is not a guarantee.

What Else Does the Delta Flight DL89 Settlement Provide?

Delta also agreed to provide a Joint Declaration from the parties’ experts on laboratory testing. It addresses whether the maximum amount of jet fuel that reached the ground would have been detectable and whether it would have persisted after the jettison.

Delta Flight DL89 Settlement Key Dates

Date	Event
January 14, 2020	Delta Flight DL89 jettisons fuel over Southern California
January 24, 2020	First class action complaint filed
August 25, 2025	Settlement filed in federal court
November 13, 2025	Preliminary approval order
February 6, 2026	Claim, opt-out and objection deadline (passed)
September 28, 2026	Final approval hearing; tentative approval reported
Not yet set	Final order and payment date

More Class Action Settlement Guides on AllAboutLawyer

• Legal Notice of Class Action Settlement, What It Means and What to Do Next explains claim, opt-out and objection deadlines like the ones in this case.
• All Capital One Class Action Lawsuits 2026, Every Active Settlement, Claim Forms, and Deadlines lists other settlements with open and closed claim windows.

Delta Flight DL89 Fuel Dump Settlement FAQ

Is the Delta $78.75 million fuel dump settlement still accepting claims?

No. The claim deadline was February 6, 2026.

Has a judge finally approved the Delta DL89 settlement?

Not yet. Judge Kronstadt tentatively approved it on September 28, 2026, and a final order is expected later.

How much is the Delta Flight DL89 settlement worth?

The fund is $78,750,000, with about $50,590,000 estimated to remain after approved deductions.

How is the Delta settlement money split between owners and residents?

Property owners get 67% of the net fund, divided per property. Residents and renters get 33%, divided among valid resident claims.

Did Delta admit fault for the Flight DL89 fuel dump?

No. Delta denies the allegations and wrongdoing. The settlement resolves the case without an admission of liability.

When will Delta Flight DL89 settlement payments go out?

No date is confirmed. Payments depend on final approval and any appeals.

Sources

1. In re Delta Air Lines, Inc. Settlement Notice and FAQ, No. 2:20-cv-00786-JAK (SKx) (C.D. Cal.), dl89settlement.com
2. Order on preliminary approval, Nov. 13, 2025 (Doc. 704), and settlement agreement filed Aug. 25, 2025 (Doc. 694)
3. MyNewsLA / City News Service, “Court Tentatively Approves $78.7M Settlement Over Delta Fuel Dump” (Sept. 28, 2026)
4. MyNewsLA / City News Service, “Final Approval Expected in $78.8M Settlement Over Delta Fuel Dump” (Sept. 28, 2026)
5. ClassAction.org, “$78.75M Delta Settlement Ends Litigation Over Alleged California Jet Fuel Dump in January 2020”
6. PEOPLE, “Delta to Pay $79 Million After Jet Fuel Rained Down on L.A. Schools and Homes”

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Israr Ahmad is a legal content researcher, not an attorney, and AllAboutLawyer.com is not affiliated with Delta, class counsel or the settlement administrator. Case status can change, so confirm details on dl89settlement.com and in the court’s records.