Two Delta Air Lines employees have died after a tire exploded on a Boeing 757 plane in a maintenance facility Tuesday, while a third is reportedly in hospital with “serious” injuries.
“The Delta family is heartbroken by the loss of two crew members and the injury of another following an incident this morning… We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened,” the airline said in a statement, according to the BBC.
Around 5 a.m., workers were busy changing a tire on a Boeing 757 in a repair shop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when the object reportedly exploded, according to the British media.
It is unclear what caused the tire to explode after the plane arrived from Las Vegas on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the incident reportedly cost the lives of two employees aged 37 and 58, Luis Aldarondo and Mirko Marweg. A third colleague, whose identity has not been revealed, was lying with “serious” injuries in hospital on Tuesday evening, according to “The Guardian”.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees. My thoughts are also with those who were injured and I hope for their speedy and full recovery,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens tweeted, according to the BBC.
On Tuesday, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers reportedly called for a full investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration said it had been “made aware of the incident and is in communication with the airline,” according to British media.
For its part, Delta assured that an investigation would be underway to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
