Janice R. Andrews
IN ATLANTA — Four people were hurt when a tire on a Delta plane blew up early Tuesday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Two people died and three were really hurt. Local news sources say the blast happened at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance site, which is near the airport.
One Delta employee and one contractor were among the dead. Both of them died. During the blast, a second Delta worker was hurt. Delta Air Lines, whose main office is in Atlanta, said it was very sorry about the deaths of its employees and offered its support to their families.
“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 airline wrote in a statement. “We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”
Delta also said good things about how quickly rescue teams got to the scene. “The Delta family is grateful for the quick action of first responders and medical teams on site,” the statement said. “We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened.”
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the busiest airport in the world, was not touched by the event, no matter how bad it was. A spokesman said that the airport, which served more than 104 million people in 2023, is still fully operating.
In a statement, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said he felt bad for the families of the victims and wanted to help the people who were hurt. “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.”
A group for airline workers across the country, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, also voiced its worry. “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 group said. “We stand in unity with Delta workers during this difficult time and call on Delta and the relevant authorities to quickly launch a thorough investigation into how this happened.”
An probe is still going on to find out what caused the blast.
