Two Delta workers killed and one injured after plane tire explodes at Atlanta airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is the world’s busiest airport

Emergency vehicles seen parked near a Delta plane at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A tire on a Delta plane exploded, killing two Delta employees and injuring a third (WSB-TV 2)

Two people are dead and one person is injured after a tire on a Delta plane exploded at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The tire explosion killed one Delta employee and one contractor, local outlet WSBTV rpeorts. A second Delta employee was also injured. The incident happened early Tuesday morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility, which is connected to the airport.

“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 (TOC 3),” the Atlanta-based airline said in a statement. “We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”

“The Delta family is grateful for the quick action of first responders and medical teams on site,” the statement continued. “We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened.”

Delta airplanes sit at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A tire exploded on a Delta airplane in a maintenance area of the airport, killing two airline employees and injuring a third (Getty Images)

The explosion has not impacted airport operations, a spokesperson for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport told The Independent. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is the world’s busiest airport. The travel hub reported more than 104 million passengers in 2023.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also issued a statement on the incident.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees,” he said.

“My thoughts are also with those who were injured, and I hope for their swift and full recovery,” he continued. “AFRD, APD, and HJAIA teams are on the scene, working diligently to address the situation.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, a union that represents airline workers across the country, also spoke out.

“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,” the organization said. “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.”

More to come...