A class-action lawsuit has been filed against GKN Aerospace on behalf of Garden Grove residents affected by the ongoing chemical leak crisis that prompted officials to declare a state of emergency.
The lawsuit was filed by The X-Law Group P.C. and Presidio Law Firm LLP on behalf of two residents living in the evacuation zone.
The suit is seeking, “Accountability for residents facing evacuation orders, property disruption, potential health risks, loss of use of their homes, related expenses, and diminished property values.”
The toxic leak was reported at the GKN Aerospace facility at 12122 Western Ave. on Thursday, May 21. The 34,000-gallon tank was leaking methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable liquid used to make acrylic plastics.
Water is sprayed on a tank that overheated at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP)
The sign of GKN Aerospace where a tank overheated in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Water is sprayed on a tank that overheated at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters douse the leaking chemical tank in Garden Grove on May 22, 2026. (KTLA)
A map of the evacuation zone in the wake of a toxic chemical leak in Garden Grove. May 2026. (Garden Grove Police Department)
Evacuees from an aerospace chemical plant tank leak move to another shelter after the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center closed for the night in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Thousands of residents were evacuated after a 34,000-gallon storage tank at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove spewed toxic chemicals into the air on May 21, 2026. (KTLA)
Orange County Fire Authority crews responded to help cool down a 34,000-gallon storage tank leak at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove that spewed toxic chemicals into the air on May 21, 2026. (KTLA)
Thousands of residents were evacuated after a 34,000-gallon storage tank at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove spewed toxic chemicals into the air on May 21, 2026. (KTLA)
Water is sprayed on a tank that overheated at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Since then, around 50,000 residents were evacuated and crews have been struggling to keep the tank from overheating.
Eventually, Orange County Fire Authority officials confirmed that the tank would likely rupture or explode.
“In aviation manufacturing, MMA-based products are prized for their strength, optical clarity, and durability,” the suit read. “But when stored or handled improperly, MMA can become something else entirely: a volatile, combustible chemical capable of producing toxic vapors that can travel into surrounding neighborhoods and endanger thousands of people.”
“The risks associated with chemicals like MMA are well understood within the aerospace sector,” said Filippo Marchino, founder and Managing Partner of The X-Law Group. “Failures involving storage tanks or containment systems can escalate into large-scale public safety emergencies within minutes. Garden Grove families did not sign up to live next door to a major industrial chemical emergency, and they deserve answers, accountability, and representation now—not after critical decisions about testing, cleanup, and compensation have already been made.”
The class action alleges that GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems Inc. and other responsible parties had failed to adequately protect the surrounding community from a known hazardous condition.
The suit seeks accountability for the “widespread disruption, evacuation concerns, property-related damages and other losses suffered by affected residents.”
On Saturday, May 23, fire crews remained at the aerospace facility as round-the-clock cooling efforts and temperature monitoring continued into the night.
“They discovered the primary tank that’s in crisis, we were unable to access the valves,” said OCFA Division Chief Craig Covey. “The valves are broken, they’re gummed up with the agent and we’re unable to offload the material through the systems that it has.”
Water is sprayed on a tank that overheated at an aerospace plant in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
“This is not precautionary. This thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when,” Covey said. “We’re doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it. There are literally two options left remaining. One, the tank fails and spills a total of about 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area. Or two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up.”
OCFA officials also released a map of the potential blast zones if the tank exploded.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office established an anonymous tip hotline and online reporting form to gather information on the incident.
“This is an incredibly volatile situation with extraordinary efforts being made by first responders to prevent a potentially catastrophic disaster,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Given the very real risk to human life as a result of this event, it is crucial that anyone who has information about this incident or the industrial operations of GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, Inc. come forward and report it so that it can be thoroughly investigated by law enforcement. We are continuing to monitor this situation minute by minute and we are forever grateful for the superhuman efforts by the emergency responders who are doing the impossible in order to try to avoid a mass casualty incident.”
Some of the information OCDA investigators are seeking include:
The circumstances leading up to this incident
Specific details of the release
Information about the industrial operations of the facility
The quality and frequency of maintenance of the tanks and systems at issue
Any other relevant information at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems
Anyone with information is asked to call the Anonymous Tip Hotline at 714-347-8714 or fill out an anonymous online form here. Anonymous tips can also be emailed to tipster@ocdistrictattorney.gov.
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