Questions & Answers

We are a global multi-technology leader in the aerospace industry. We serve over 90% of the world's aircraft and engine manufacturers, specializing in the development and delivery of cutting-edge aerostructures and engine systems.

At Garden Grove, GKN Aerospace manufactures advanced aerospace canopies, cabin windows, and flight deck windows for commercial and military aircraft as well as spacecraft. GKN manufactures the world-leading F-35 canopy and has produced more than 2 million cabin windows for the Boeing 737 and 787. Our high-clarity transparency windows also enabled the view from Artemis II space mission back to Earth. GKN Aerospace's facility has been part of the Garden Grove community for 60 years and today employs more than 500 people.

On Thursday afternoon, May 21, GKN Aerospace personnel noticed a storage tank containing methyl methacrylate (MMA), a chemical used in the manufacture of high-strength aerospace acrylic materials, was experiencing an increase in temperature. Action was taken immediately, and GKN began working closely with emergency response personnel.

As conditions evolved through Friday, May 22, the Orange County Fire Authority made the decision to issue mandatory evacuation orders for portions of the surrounding community to protect public safety while response operations continued. GKN brought in leading experts and worked around the clock with the Orange County Fire Authority, the U.S. EPA, and all relevant federal, state, and local agencies to address the issue.

GKN’s team of experts played a critical role in assessing the situation and confirming that the tank was not at risk. Evacuation orders were partially lifted on Monday, May 25, and lifted in full on Tuesday, May 26, by the relevant authorities, with the Orange County Fire Authority reporting that there was no risk to the public.

No. The incident was limited to a small area of the facility where MMA is stored for use in acrylic manufacturing. This corner of the facility is where the ongoing review is taking place. The rest of the plant’s operations – such as forming, lamination, machining, and assembly – were unaffected. These processes occur throughout the majority of the facility and involve using already-manufactured acrylic to form and finish transparencies.

Orange County Fire Authority confirmed there were no injuries to firefighters, employees, or civilians during the incident.

Methyl methacrylate, or MMA, is a chemical widely used in the manufacture of acrylic materials, coatings, composites, and specialty components, including aerospace applications. It is also commonly used for dental and medical purposes, including fillings and crowns, as well as in hip and knee replacements. Like many chemicals, MMA must be stored and managed within specific operating conditions. Facilities that handle MMA operate under extensive federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations.

The area of the facility with the tanks is relatively small compared to the rest of the plant and is currently cordoned off. In this area, analyses of the incident remain ongoing, and we continue to work closely with regulators and authorities, including OCHCA, U.S. EPA, and Cal OSHA, regarding this corner of the facility.

The overwhelming majority of our employees work in unaffected operations in other parts of the plant. Their work includes forming, lamination, machining, and assembly, and their roles do not require them to interact with the MMA tanks, which are part of the ongoing review. Their work continues to be conducted safely and in full collaboration with regulators and other authorities as the Garden Grove facility resumes its critical role in the aviation industry in the U.S. and around the world.

Reopening of the affected portion of the facility will be done carefully and in coordination with the appropriate agencies and officials. We continue to work closely with regulators and authorities, including OCHCA, the U.S. EPA, and Cal OSHA.

Analyses are underway to understand what happened, and why. At the time of the incident, GKN immediately engaged leading experts to assess the situation and support response efforts. Those experts, along with others, are continuing to review the incident.

No. Following the lifting of evacuation orders, city and county officials stated that residents could safely return home and that there were no health concerns or specific safety precautions for the community to take.

Dr. Darwin Cheng, Director of Environmental Health (OCHCA), previously confirmed to the Garden Grove City Council that there was no danger to the community during the MMA removal process. All liquid neutralized MMA material has been removed from Tanks #2 and #4 (the “non-incident” tanks).

GKN Aerospace is currently assessing a potential claims program that would allow eligible people to resolve claims for losses incurred in connection with the May evacuation order. The program being discussed would seek to make the claims process as accessible and efficient as possible, including by providing instructions in multiple languages.

To date, GKN has funded $3 million to Orange County United Way’s OC Community Resilience Fund to provide assistance to those affected by the recent evacuation of areas surrounding the Garden Grove facility. GKN is also committing an additional $1 million to support broader community initiatives across Orange County. These funds follow our earlier $1 million funding to the American Red Cross to support residents directly impacted by evacuation orders when those orders were in effect.

For more information, please continue to check this website and/or sign up to receive updates.

Multiple putative class action and individual proceedings making claims related to the May evacuation have been filed in Orange County Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. All complaints filed to date can be found here. The complaints include the case names and numbers, plaintiffs' counsel's names and contact information, the filing court(s) and the presiding judge(s), if available, and information about membership in the putative class. An explanation of the legal effect of participating in the claims program will be provided before any claims program is launched.

The OC Community Resilience Fund was created to provide coordinated support for residents affected by the incident. Through 2-1-1 Orange County, a service of Orange County United Way, residents can connect with local health and human service resources and information about available aid.

Questions about the fund are best directed to the United Way. The fund is intended to help those facing short-term recovery-related needs connected to the incident.

Additional information and resources for residents and local businesses affected by the incident are also available at the bottom of this page.

We encourage you to review the resources available through your city, as well as Orange County’s incident page.