Melrose Industries PLC said its GKN Aerospace unit will create a $100 million compensation program for residents and businesses affected by a May evacuation near the company’s Garden Grove, California facility.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office closed its criminal investigation into the incident without filing charges, though a civil probe remains open. GKN Aerospace said the fund will reimburse eligible parties for evacuation-related expenses such as hotel stays, meals, transportation, lost wages and loss of use. Claims from emergency services for response costs and potential civil penalties will be handled separately and are excluded from the program.
The company permanently deactivated the tank involved in the incident and implemented safety upgrades at the facility. GKN Aerospace stated it fully cooperated with all investigations and that its insurance position remains under review.
The compensation program is scheduled to launch within the next few weeks. GKN Aerospace expects to resume full manufacturing capacity at the site by September 28 and plans to gradually restore customer deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2026, with a full return to normal operations targeted for 2027.
