(Photo Source: Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)

The sudden dumping of fuel was due to an emergency plane landing

A Delta jet dumped loads over fuel over several California schools as it made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport. Paramedics had to treat more than 60 children and adults at four different elementary schools and a high school in Cudahy, California, which is southeast of Los Angeles.

The jet apparently took off from LAX airport earlier in the morning but returned when it began having engine trouble. Videos taken by local residents show the plane spewing jet fuel over Cudahy and nearby towns.

Federal guidelines call for planes to dump their fuel during emergency landings, although only over “designated unpopulated areas.”

“These procedures call for fuel to be dumped over designated unpopulated areas, typically at higher altitudes so the fuel atomizes and disperses before it reaches the ground,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The FAA promised to investigate the incident.

Delta released a statement after the plane landed safely. The LAX airport also released a statement, saying they were concerned about the impact the fuel dump would have on the communities in the plane’s flight path.

“We are concerned about impacts on the ground from the fuel release and are in close communication with Delta and first responders as their investigations continue,” LAX said.

All of the injuries to the students and adults at the schools are believed to be minor.