California Plant Linked to Chemical Leak Also Makes F-35 Jet Parts

A chemical leak at a GKN Aerospace plant in Garden Grove, California, forced evacuation orders for as many as 50,000 residents last week. The 7,000-gallon tank rupture occurred at the facility, which produces acrylic cockpit canopies for F-35 fighter jets.

The company has received more than $13 million in subcontracts with Lockheed Martin since 2017, according to federal contract data analyzed by the Palestinian Youth Movement and verified by The Intercept. , the Garden Grove subsidiary, has secured more than $255 million in Lockheed Martin subcontracts overall.

Aerospace describes the Garden Grove site as the leading provider of the transparency canopy used on F-35 jets. Methyl methacrylate, the chemical that leaked, is a key ingredient in those canopies. The company received a permit on May 19 for a 34,000-square-foot expansion intended to double canopy production, citing rising demand for the aircraft.

5 million in subcontracts with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in early 2023 for CH-53K helicopter components.

the Palestinian Youth Movement and allied groups presented demands at a Garden Grove City Council meeting. The coalition called for closure of the facility, a citywide moratorium on military manufacturing contracts, and a half-mile buffer zone between such plants and residential areas.

City records show GKN Aerospace previously agreed to pay nearly $1 million to settle environmental violation charges, including failures to maintain emissions records and operating equipment without permits. The company has also faced penalties for inadequate machinery inspections and labor safety violations.

Garden Grove and GKN Aerospace did not respond to requests for comment from The Intercept.