ATLANTA — The Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the two people who were killed in an incident at the Delta TechOps facility on Tuesday.
Mirko Marweg, 58, of Stone Mountain, and Luis Aldarondo, 37, of Newnan, were the Delta employees who died. Another employee was injured but has not been identified.
Delta Air Lines said in a statement that the accident involved "aircraft wheel components." It also stated it is investigating. OSHA confirmed is it investigating as well.
A union group that has campaigned to organize employees at Delta, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), said it had received reports that a tire exploded during some kind of operational work.
A report from Atlanta Fire Rescue listed a narrative from workers who were there when the situation unfolded.
"I heard an explosion behind me and saw my co-workers running away from the direction of the explosion. I realized they were running to get help," the report indicates.
The witness added they saw a body with blood, according to the report.
A source close to the investigation tells 11Alive the accident was a result of several factors with the wheel components malfunctioning.
Delta did not specify the nature of the incident. In a statement, the company said it was "working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened." It happened at the wheel and brake shop, a note to employees from TechOps President John Laughter said.
Pilot and aviation attorney Alan Armstrong said an accident like this is a rarity.
"It's surprising and a bit shocking. This doesn't happen very often. I mean, people get hurt on the job, of course, but they don't get killed. And so this is, it's very troubling," Armstrong said.
Armstrong said planes and parts are thoroughly checked.
"We have what's called a Safety Management System SMS. And that is universal," Armstrong said.
Armstrong expects the accident to be rigorously investigated.
"They'll want to get to the bottom of it and find out was a procedure not followed. Was a component just defective and they were not aware of it? Is this a failure of the tire and wheel assembly? Or is this a failure to follow protocols?" Armstrong asked.
Armstrong said the team is likely not taking this well.
"Airplane mechanics and airplane pilots, they are--it's a close-knit community. And so, when something like this happens, people feel it," Armstrong said.
Armstrong said the families impacted are entitled to workers' compensation. A Delta spokesperson also said there will be 24/7 counseling.
"There are all kinds of procedures to ensure that things like this do not happen," Armstrong said. "And so, when something like this does happen, it's of tremendous concern to everyone in aviation."
Delta's TechOps facility handles maintenance, repair, and overhaul for the airliner, according to its website.
A Hartsfield-Jackson public affairs spokesperson said there was "no impact to operations at the airport."
Delta's president of TechOps, John Laughter, sent out a statement to employees offering support to families and services to employees.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens posted a statement on X about the incident: "I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees. My thoughts are also with those who were injured, and I hope for their swift and full recovery. AFRD, APD, and HJAIA teams are on the scene, working diligently to address the situation."