Tire explosion on Delta aircraft: Tragedy in maintenance facility claims workers’ lives, investigations ongoing

An early morning explosion rocked a Delta Air Lines Maintenance Facility at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, resulting in the death of two Employees A third was seriously injured. The incident occurred shortly before 5:10 a.m. (local time) in the wheel and brake shop at Delta’s Technical Operations Maintenance facility in Atlanta, a key hub for the airline’s flight operations.
The victims were Mirko F. Marweg, 58, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Luis Aldarondo, 37, of Newnan, Georgia, according to the Clayton County Coroner’s Office. Both men were longtime Delta employees and their loss sent shockwaves through the airline.

Witnesses described the horrific moments after the explosion. “I heard an explosion behind me and saw my co-workers running away from the direction of the explosion,” a worker reported in his incident report to the Atlanta Fire Department. “I walked toward the explosion site and saw a body lying face down, motionless and covered in blood,” the NYT quoted him as saying.
Delta Air Lines has confirmed the tragic accident but has not yet released any details about the cause of the explosion. The airline said the incident was under investigation and authorities were working to determine the cause of the deadly explosion. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it was aware of the situation but referred inquiries to Delta.

Despite the tragedy, there were no disruptions to airport operations Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport confirmed that flight traffic continued without interruptions and Delta’s maintenance facility remained open.
The condition of the third employee, who suffered serious injuries, is currently unclear.

In response to the incident, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents airline employees across North America, called for a prompt and thorough investigation to determine how such a tragic accident could have occurred.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed his condolences on social media, saying: “My deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees.”
While the investigation continues, the airline mourns the loss of two dedicated employees whose lives were tragically lost in the line of duty.