Airplane tire explodes near Atlanta airport, killing two Delta employees

A tragic scene occurred in Georgia early Tuesday morning when a Boeing 747's tire burst during maintenance. Two Delta employees were killed and another was seriously injured.

The incident occurred at a Delta TechOps facility in Atlanta, located adjacent to Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport.

“The Delta family is heartbroken over the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility,” Delta said in a statement. “We have pledged our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”

It was revealed that the plane in question came from Las Vegas and arrived in Atlanta on Sunday evening.

No further information is available regarding the cause of the explosion or the identities of those affected. Delta is currently conducting an investigation into the cause.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers released a statement in support of Delta employees injured in the explosion and those still working today.

“As a union committed to the well-being and safety of our members and the broader community, we will offer our resources to anyone affected by this tragic event,” the union said in its statement. “We stand with Delta workers during this difficult time and call on Delta and the appropriate authorities to quickly launch a thorough investigation to determine how this happened.”

The airline's daily operations were not affected by the event and all flights were able to operate as planned.

Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport, with over 300,000 more seats than the next busiest airport. Had the explosion occurred at the airport rather than the TechOps facility, there could have been significant delays.

It is the main hub for Delta's operations and the home of its corporate headquarters. Delta operates over 1,000 flights daily.