Two Delta employees killed, one injured in accident at Atlanta airport

Two Delta Air Lines employees were killed and one seriously injured in an accident in an airline maintenance hangar in Atlanta.

Workers serviced a Delta aircraft in the airline's wheel and brake shop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport shortly after 5 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

It is unclear how the incident occurred.

Local health authorities identified the dead as Mirko Marweg, 58, and Luis Aldarondo, 37. The name of the injured person was not disclosed.

A statement from the airline said: “The Delta family is heartbroken over the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Technical Operations Maintenance facility in Atlanta.

“We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to find out what happened.”

Delta said the injured worker was receiving medical treatment.

The incident involved wheel components that were being dismantled and were not attached to the aircraft, the airline said in a statement.

No cause could be determined and Delta said an investigation was ongoing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was “aware of the incident and is in contact with the airline.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, a union that represents many airline workers, called for an investigation into the deaths. Delta's workforce is largely non-unionized, CBS reports.

“We stand with Delta workers during this difficult time and call on Delta and the relevant authorities to immediately launch a thorough investigation to find out how this happened,” the union said in a statement.

Local authorities expressed support to the victims and their families, but provided few details.

The airport management spoke of a “tragic incident”.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement posted online. “My thoughts are also with those injured and I hope for their speedy and full recovery.”

According to online flight records, the plane arrived in Atlanta from Las Vegas on Sunday.

The incident apparently had no impact on air traffic at the airport on Tuesday.

Delta is headquartered in Atlanta. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger volume.