Delta Air Lines has issued a statement after a tire blowout in Atlanta killed two people.
Delta TechOps, responsible for maintaining and repairing the airline's fleet, became the scene of a fatal accident at approximately 5:00AM on Tuesday.
The workers were in the process of changing a tire on a Delta aircraft when the tire unexpectedly blew out, resulting in the deadly accident, according to a statement from Delta Air Lines, cited by Fox13.
The company acknowledged that the incident involved wheel components being disassembled for maintenance and that the materials were not attached to an aircraft at the time.
Maj. Kelley Collier of the Atlanta Police Department reported that emergency crews responded swiftly to the scene following a call about the explosion.
Despite their efforts, two workers died due to their injuries on site, while the third was rushed to a nearby hospital with "major injuries," per the Guardian.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released. Flight records indicate that the workers were servicing a Boeing 757 jet, which had arrived from Las Vegas on Sunday night.
Delta Air Lines expressed deep sorrow over the incident and confirmed that it is cooperating fully with local authorities to investigate the cause of the explosion.
"The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning. We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time," the airline said in a statement.
"The Delta family is grateful for the quick action of first responders and medical teams on site. We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened."
Kyle Bailey, a former FAA Safety expert and aviation analyst, commented on the incident via Fox13, noting its rarity:
"It is a little bit alarming because this stuff doesn't happen every day or every week or even every month. These things explode, these things malfunction, people make mistakes. But sadly, in this case, two people were killed."
The FAA confirmed that it is aware of the incident and is in communication with Delta.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), a union representing over 100,000 airline workers across the U.S., called for a thorough investigation into the tragic incident.
"IAM stands in solidarity with the community of Atlanta and expresses our deepest condolences to the victims’ families following the tragic incident that occurred this morning," the union said in a statement.
"As a union dedicated to the well-being and safety of our members and the broader community, we will offer our resources to all those impacted by this tragic event.
"We stand in unity with Delta workers during this difficult time and we call on Delta and the relevant authorities to quickly launch a thorough investigation into how this happened."
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those affected.
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