The victims were identified as 58-year-old Mirko F Marweg of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and 37-year-old Luis Aldarondo of Newnan, Georgia, according to the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office.Both men were seasoned Delta employees, and their loss has sent shockwaves through the airline community.
Witnesses described the terrifying moments following the explosion. “I heard an explosion behind me and saw my co-workers running away from the direction of the explosion,” one worker recounted to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in its incident report. “I walked toward where the explosion occurred and saw a body lying face down, not moving, with blood all around,” quoted NYT.
Delta Air Lines has confirmed the tragic accident but has not yet provided details on what caused the explosion. The airline said that the incident is under investigation, with authorities working to determine the cause of the deadly blast. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledged awareness of the situation but referred inquiries back to Delta.
Despite the tragedy, the airport’s operations were not disrupted on Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport confirmed that travel continued without interruption, and Delta’s maintenance facility remained open.
The condition of the third employee, who sustained serious injuries, remains unclear at this time.
In response to the incident, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, representing airline workers across North America, has called for a swift and thorough investigation to uncover how such a tragic accident could occur.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed his condolences on social media, saying, “My deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees.”
As the investigation continues, the airline community mourns the loss of two dedicated employees whose lives were tragically cut short in the line of duty.