Two fatalities and one injury have been reported following an accident at a Delta Airlines maintenance facility.
While changing a tire on an aircraft at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the tire exploded.
One of the deceased was a Delta employee, while the other was a contractor working with the airline.
A third individual sustained serious injuries due to the incident.
The affected aircraft, a Boeing 757, had landed in Atlanta from Las Vegas on Sunday night, as detailed in a report from WSB-TV.
Flight tracking data from Flight Radar shows that the aircraft had completed four short trips that day, with routes including Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Tampa.
At the time of the incident, the aircraft was undergoing maintenance at the Delta Technical Operations Maintenance facility, known as Delta TechOps, located at the airport.
Delta TechOps is responsible for maintaining and repairing Delta’s fleet of aircraft.
The identities of the victims and the injured party have not been disclosed.
John Laughter, the executive vice president and chief of operations for TechOps, issued a ‘note from John’ in response to the event.
He stated: “I’m deeply saddened to share that three TechOps team members were involved in an accident that took place early this morning in Atlanta.
“Tragically, two of our team members involved passed away and one other team member was seriously injured.
“We are extending our full support to their families at this difficult time and conducting an investigation to determine what happened.”
He further added: “Please know your safety and wellbeing comes first – always, and that your leaders are here for you. Please continue to take good care of yourself and one another.
“We’re all in this together, and we’ll get through this by supporting each other.”
Delta Airlines also issued an official statement, saying: “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).
“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. We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened.”