Mirko Marweg, Luis Aldarondo Obituary, Death – Two employees lost their lives and another sustained serious injuries in what officials described as a “possible explosion” at Delta Air Lines’ Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility located at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as reported by Delta TechOps and first responders.
According to Delta TechOps, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning within the wheel and brake shop.
Responders to the “possible explosion” discovered “three Delta employees on the floor,” with medics attempting to manage “major bleeding,” as detailed in the incident report from the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department.
An eyewitness reported hearing an explosion and observing workers fleeing the scene, as noted in the incident report.
“I realized they were running to get help. I walked toward the site of the explosion and saw a body lying face down, motionless, surrounded by blood,” the employee recounted to officials, according to the report.
Delta indicated that the incident involved a tire and its components. At the time of the accident, the wheel was neither attached to an aircraft nor in proximity to one, as stated by Delta.
The wheels were undergoing “disassembly for maintenance” and were not connected to any aircraft, according to investigators.
Airport officials confirmed that the incident did not affect airport operations.
Delta announced that it is “collaborating with local authorities and conducting a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the event.”
The airline expressed its sorrow, stating it is “heartbroken” and “appreciative of the prompt actions taken by first responders and medical teams present at the scene.”
The deceased workers have been identified as Mirko Marweg, 58, and Luis Aldarondo, 37, according to the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office. The identity of the third employee, who remains hospitalized, has not yet been disclosed.
“We are providing our full support to their families during this challenging time and are conducting an investigation to uncover the details of what transpired,” stated John Laughter, executive vice president, chief of operations, and president of Delta TechOps. “This news is devastating.”