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Delta TechOps confirms fatal incident
More information has been released about the incident that took the lives of 2 people and injured 1 person on Tuesday morning,. The president and COO of Delta TechOps has confirmed the deaths and injury and says they are investigating the incident.
ATLANTA - Two Delta employees were killed, and another employee was injured during an incident at Delta Technical Operations Maintenance facility (also known as Delta TechOps) on Tuesday morning.
The deceased have been identified by the Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office as 58-year-old Mirko Marweg and 37-year-old Luis Aldarondo.
Delta TechOps is responsible for airline maintenance and repair. No other information has been released about the person who was injured at this time.
John Laughter, who is the executive vice president and chief of operations and president of TechOps, sent the following "Note From John" after the incident.
TechOps Team,
I’m deeply saddened to share that three TechOps team members were involved in an accident that took place early this morning in Atlanta TOC 3, Dept. 391 - Wheel & Brake Shop. 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.
This news is heartbreaking for all of us. EAP resources will be onsite at the ATL TOC to support our teams as long as needed. Please do not hesitate to contact EAP, your leader or TechOps Human Resources for any assistance or support you need. Spring Health counselors are also available 24/7 at [redacted].
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
.John Laughter
President – Delta TechOps, E.V.P. and Chief of Operations
Delta Air Lines also released a statement following the fatal incident:
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.
The incident happened around 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Multiple sources have told FOX 5 Atlanta that a tire removed from a plane exploded. Delta has not confirmed the explosion, but did tell FOX 5 Atlanta that the incident involved wheel components that were being disassembled for maintenance. They said the materials were not attached to an aircraft when the incident happened.
"It is a little bit alarming because this stuff doesn't happen every day or every week or even every month," said Kyle Bailey a former FAA Safety expert and aviation analyst.
"These things explode, these things malfunction, people make mistakes," Bailey continued. "But sadly, in this case, two people were killed."
According to FlightAware.com, the plane believed to be involved, a Boeing 757-200, arrived from Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday night shortly after 9 p.m.
The FAA told FOX 5 that they are aware of the incident and are in communication with the airline.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport told FOX 5 that the operations at the airport have not been impacted.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens offered his condolences on social media:
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The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which does not represent the employees of the maintenance facility, released the following statement on the tragic incident at the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport involving workers at Delta Air Lines:
"The IAM Union, which represents over 100,000 members in the airline industry across North America, stands in solidarity with the community of Atlanta and expresses our deepest condolences to the victims’ families following the tragic incident that occurred this morning.
"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.
"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."
This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.