2 Killed, 1 Injured After Plane Tire Explodes At ATL Airport: Report

ATLANTA, GA — Two Delta Air Lines employees were killed, and a third staffer was seriously injured, Tuesday morning after a tire exploded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to the airlines and a media report.

The incident happened at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility, Delta said in a statement, not specifying the nature of the incident or identifying those who were killed.

The tire was being taken off of a plane, which entered Atlanta from Las Vegas, when it erupted in the maintenance area, Channel 2 Action News reported.

John Laughter, Delta TechOps executive vice president and chief of operations, alerted the TechOps team in a memo - which has been obtained by Patch.

"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," Laughter wrote in the memo. "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."

Resources and counselors are being made available at the technical operations facility to offer support for employees.

"Please know your safety and wellbeing comes first – always, and that your leaders are here for you," Laughter wrote. "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."

Delta, in a statement, said it is heartbroken following Tuesday morning's fatal incident and it is appreciative of the swift action of first responders. The Atlanta-based airlines said it is working with authorities to investigate what happened during the incident.