Two individuals died, while a third person suffered serious injuries, at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta after a Delta airplane’s tire exploded during maintenance.

“A Delta Airlines Boeing 757 tire explosion during maintenance, killed two of its employees, and another severely wounded, at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport earlier today,” aviation news X account FL360aero wrote.

Delta spokesperson Samantha Facteau told USA TODAY the incident occurred at the airline’s TechOps maintenance facility.

Emergency crews responded to the scene around 5 a.m.

“Sources told local media that a tire exploded while it was being removed from a plane. According to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the operations at the airport have not been impacted,” Breaking Aviation News & Videos noted.

Per USA TODAY:

According to officials, a plane tire exploded while being changed, killing both employees and sending a third to a hospital to be treated for serious injures.

The extent of the third Delta worker’s injuries was not immediately known.

“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),” the company released a statement to USA TODAY. “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.”

Daily Mail noted:

Delta TechOps is responsible for the maintenance of all the airline’s planes, and Atlanta serves as the global headquarters, servicing more than 200 routes around the world.

It is understood the Boeing 757 arrived in Atlanta from Las Vegas on Sunday night, WSB-TV reported.

Flight Radar tracking data reveals the plane had completed four short-haul trips on Sunday between Tampa, Atlanta and Las Vegas.

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

John Laughter, the President and Chief of Operations of Delta TechOps, issued a note to staff on Tuesday morning acknowledging the tragedy is ‘heartbreaking for us all.’

He said: ‘I’m deeply saddened to share that three TechOps team members were involved in an accident that took place early this morning in Atlanta… Wheel & Brake Shop.

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