Two dead and one injured after tire bursts on Delta plane at Atlanta airport

Two people died when a Delta plane's tire burst during changeover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

A Delta employee and a contractor were killed at the scene of the accident, and a third person suffered serious injuries.

The incident occurred shortly after 5 a.m. on Tuesday in the airport's maintenance area.

Delta TechOps is responsible for maintaining all of the airline's aircraft, and Atlanta serves as its global headquarters, serving more than 200 routes worldwide.

As WSB-TV reported, the Boeing 757 apparently arrived in Atlanta from Las Vegas on Sunday evening.

Flight Radar tracking data shows that the plane completed four short-haul flights between Tampa, Atlanta and Las Vegas on Sunday.

The incident occurred just months after another Delta Boeing lost its nose wheel while attempting to take off from the same airport.

Two people died when a tire on a Delta plane burst during a changeover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

John Laughter, president and chief of operations of Delta TechOps, said in a message to employees Tuesday morning that the tragedy was “heartbreaking for all of us.”

He said, “I am deeply saddened to announce that three members of the TechOps team were involved in an accident that occurred early this morning in Atlanta… Wheel & Brake Shop.”

“Please know that your safety and well-being always come first and that your leaders are there for you. Please continue to take good care of yourself and others.

“We are all in the same boat and we will get through this by supporting each other.”

Laughter said the necessary resources would remain on site to help, referring employees in need to human resources and offering 24/7 counseling services.

A statement from Delta Air Lines 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 Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility.”

“We have pledged our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.

“The Delta family is grateful for the quick response of first responders and medical teams on the scene.”

Flights to and from the airport were not affected by the tragedy.

Delta has pledged to cooperate with local authorities as an investigation is launched to determine what went wrong.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed the tragedy in a statement on Tuesday morning and expressed his condolences to the families of those affected.

He said: “I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees.”

My thoughts are also with the injured and I hope for their quick and full recovery. The AFRD, APD and HJAIA teams are on site and are working diligently to manage the situation.'

Delta Air Lines said in a statement: “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.”

The tragedy occurred just months after a Delta plane from the same airport lost its nose tire during takeoff.

The Boeing 757's departure from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Bogota, Colombia, was scheduled for January but was delayed due to the incident.

According to the FAA, the nose wheel came off and rolled down the hill as if it had just been servicing before takeoff.

It is also the latest in a series of worrying incidents involving Boeing aircraft.

Just last month, a Boeing 737 suddenly crashed over Oklahoma at less than 500 feet above the ground, sending local residents into a state of panic as they feared the plane might crash.

One of the particularly frightening incidents was when a door plug burst on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 at an altitude of 5,800 meters in January of this year.

Last month, Boeing executives accepted a $243.6 million settlement that would spare the company a criminal trial related to two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max.

Under the agreement, Boeing will plead guilty to fraud charges related to the fatal plane crashes in Indonesia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia less than five months later, which killed a total of 346 people.