17 children injured after a plane threw fuel on the backyard of their elementary school near Los Angeles

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(CNN) –– More than a dozen elementary school children are being treated after a plane threw fuel over a school playground near Los Angeles.

The incident happened at Park Avenue Elementary in Cudahy, California, just after noon on Tuesday, Sean Ferguson of the Los Angeles County Fire Department told CNN. A total of 17 children received minor injuries as well as six adults.

The department confirmed in a tweet that the substance was, in fact, jet fuel.

While the children were playing, a plane approaching the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) threw the fuel, which fell on the group. Dozens of firefighters and paramedics treated the victims at the school, which is located about 30 kilometers east of the airport.

The video posted on YouTube shows the plane flying over. Alan De Leon, who filmed the video, told CNN that he heard a loud whistle, smelled of jet fuel and felt irritation in his eyes.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the Delta 89 flight to Shanghai, China, declared an emergency shortly after takeoff and returned to LAX. The agency was unable to immediately confirm reports that fuel was thrown from the plane.

A hazardous materials team was also at the school testing the liquid, Ferguson said. In a written statement, the Los Angeles Unified School District said educators are reviewing each classroom to make sure there are no more injured. The district Office of Health and Environmental Safety also responded to the incident.

Chuck Johnston, Julia Jones, David Williams and Jennifer Selva of CNN contributed to this News.

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