Two workers were tragically killed and another seriously injured on Tuesday in a tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility near the Atlanta airport.
Delta Air Lines reported that the explosion took place while wheel components were being disassembled for maintenance at a wheel and brake shop. These parts were not attached to an aircraft at the time of the incident.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has commenced an investigation into the matter. Delta stated that it was cooperating with authorities, and the cause of the explosion has yet to be determined.
Several units from the Atlanta Fire Department and police responded to the Delta Technical Operations Maintenance facility near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport shortly after 5 a.m., according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The incident did not affect airport flights, and Delta confirmed that its maintenance operations were not disrupted.
In a statement, Delta expressed deep sorrow, saying, “The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility.” The airline added, “We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”
Delta also extended its gratitude to first responders and medical teams involved, noting that the injured worker remained under medical care late Tuesday afternoon.
“We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened,” said the Atlanta-based airline.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it was in contact with Delta but referred additional inquiries regarding the apparent accident to the airline. Eric Lucero, a spokesperson for OSHA, confirmed that the workplace-safety agency had commenced an investigation.
The explosion occurred at a Delta TechOps facility, which specializes in maintenance, repair, and overhaul work for Delta and over 150 aviation and airline customers globally.
John Laughter, Delta’s Executive Vice President and President of TechOps, communicated to staff in a note that counselors would be made available to employees. “We’re all in this together, and we’ll get through this by supporting each other,” he wrote.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed his condolences to the victims’ relatives on X, a social media platform.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which is actively working to organize 20,000 ground workers at largely nonunion Delta, has called for a swift and thorough investigation by the airline and authorities to uncover the circumstances of the incident.
