OSHA Investigating after 2 killed in explosion at Delta facility in Atlanta

Aug 28, 2024

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Two workers were killed and another was seriously injured Tuesday, Aug. 28, in a tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The explosion occurred as workers were disassembling wheel components for maintenance in Delta’s TechOps facility.

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

The facility handles maintenance, repairs and overhauls for the airline and over 150 aviation customers worldwide. The parts were not attached to an aircraft at the time.

https://twitter.com/ATLairport/status/1828462024352760058

The Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as 58-year-old Mirko F. Marweg of Stone Mountain and 37-year-old Luis Aldarondo of Newnan. The third worker remains hospitalized.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Delta expressed its condolences, stating “The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning.”

The airline is cooperating with local authorities, and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens extended his sympathies on social media, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured worker. Both Atlanta fire and police units responded to the scene shortly after 5 a.m. The explosion did not impact flights or other airport operations.

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 swift and full recovery. AFRD, APD, and HJAIA teams are on the scene, working diligently to address the situation.
— Andre Dickens (@andreforatlanta) August 27, 2024

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation, and Delta said it is conducting its own internal review. Eric Lucero, a spokesperson for OSHA, confirmed the agency is involved in investigating the cause of the incident. Delta has made grief counselors available to staff.

Tags: Atlanta, Delta Air Lines, Federal Aviation Administration, Georgia, OSHA

[KARAH RUCKER]

FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER TWO WORKERS WERE KILLED AND ANOTHER SERIOUSLY HURT TUESDAY IN A TIRE EXPLOSION AT A DELTA AIR LINES MAINTENANCE FACILITY NEAR THE ATLANTA AIRPORT.

DELTA SAID THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED WHILE WHEEL COMPONENTS WERE BEING TAKEN APART FOR MAINTENANCE AND WERE *NOT* ATTACHED TO A PLANE AT THE TIME,.

THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET.

DELTA RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IT IS “HEARTBROKEN AT THE LOSS OF ITS TEAM MEMBERS.

OSHA IS INVESTIGATING THE DEADLY INCIDENT.