GKN Aerospace said today it will provide up to $100 million in damages to those affected by the near-meltdown at a tank containing hazardous material in Garden Grove in May, after negotiations with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
“The details and administration of the program, which will reimburse eligible claimants for damages associated with the evacuation, including hotel stays, meals, transportation, loss of wages, and loss of use, are in development,” according to the statement.
The program is scheduled to open for claims submissions in the fall.
“The program announced today represents a significant step toward full resolution of the District Attorney’s Office civil law enforcement investigation,” according to GKN’s statement.
In a separate statement, OC District Attorney Todd
In a separate statement, OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the claims program will benefit the more than 50,000 OC residents who were forced to evacuate.
The statement said that after several months of investigation, which included onsite inspections, record review, and expert consultation, the District Attorney’s office “has concluded its criminal investigation.”
Spitzer’s office is also negotiating a settlement regarding safety and monitoring at the site and for an “additional reimbursement for expenses incurred by first responders and emergency services agencies who responded to the hazmat situation as well as civil penalties related to the May 2026 emergency.”
GKN Aerospace plays a key role in supplying the transparent bubble around the cockpit for the U.S.’s state-of-the-art F-35 jets,
Several lawsuits have already been filed against the facility’s owners.
