Two Delta Airlines workers who died when a tire suddenly exploded have been identified as a Navy veteran and a young father of two.
Mirko Marweg, 58, and Luis Aldarondo Jr., 37, died when the tire exploded while they were changing it at Atlanta International Airport shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday.
A third worker was seriously injured, but the extent of his injuries, the cause of the explosion and how the workers died are unknown.
Marweg served in the military, following generations of his family over the past century, including his father, sister, brothers, nephew, son and granddaughter.
Mirko Marweg, 58 (pictured with his daughter at her graduation) was one of two Delta Airlines workers killed in a tire explosion at Atlanta airport.
Luis Aldarondo Jr., 37, was the slain law enforcement worker. He is pictured with his wife, young son and daughter, and another family member.
He was an enlisted sailor in the U.S. Navy, as was his son Andre Coleman and granddaughter Nikki Coleman, 20, who enlisted in 2021.
After being discharged, he worked in maintenance for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority for 26 years until 2020, before joining Delta.
Aldarondo had a young son and daughter with his wife Sonia, and is close to his mother Julieta Pérez.
The explosion occurred in the maintenance area of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Aldarondo had a young son and daughter with his wife Sonia (pictured together), and is close to his mother Julieta Perez.
Marweg with his wife in a recent photo
Marweg served in the military (pictured here in his Navy uniform), as have generations of his family over the past century, including his father, sister, brothers, nephew, son and granddaughter.
Delta TechOps is responsible for the maintenance of all of the airline’s aircraft and Atlanta is the global headquarters, serving more than 200 routes worldwide.
The Boeing 757 is known to have arrived in Atlanta from Las Vegas on Sunday night.
Flight tracking radar data reveals the plane had completed four short-haul trips on Sunday between Tampa, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
The incident occurred months after another Delta Boeing lost its nose wheel while attempting to take off from the same airport.
Two people are dead after a tire on a Delta plane exploded while being changed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
John Laughter, president and chief operating officer of Delta TechOps, issued a note to staff Tuesday morning acknowledging that the tragedy is “heartbreaking for all of us.”
He said: ‘I am deeply saddened to share that three members of the TechOps team were involved in an accident that took place early this morning at the Atlanta Wheel & Brake Shop.
‘Please know that your safety and well-being come first, always, and that your leaders are here to help you. Please continue to look out for yourselves and each other.
“We are all in this together and we will get through this if we support each other.”
Laughter said resources will remain in place to help for as long as needed and directed struggling staff to the Human Resources department, while offering a 24/7 counselling service.
Delta Air Lines said in a statement: ‘The Delta family is heartbroken by 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 provided our full support to the family and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.
Delta Air Lines said in a statement: “The Delta family is heartbroken by the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility.”
‘The Delta family is grateful for the quick action of first responders and medical teams on the scene.’
Flights in and out of the airport have not been affected by the tragedy.
Delta has pledged to work with local authorities as an investigation is launched to determine what went wrong.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued a statement Tuesday morning confirming the tragedy and expressing his condolences to the loved ones of those involved.
He said: ‘I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees.
“My thoughts are also with the injured and I hope they make a full and speedy recovery. AFRD, APD and HJAIA teams are on scene and working diligently to resolve the situation.”
The tragedy comes just months after a Delta jet flying from the same airport lost its front tire while attempting to take off.
Delta TechOps is responsible for the maintenance of all of the airline’s aircraft and Atlanta serves as its global headquarters.
The Boeing 757 was scheduled to take off from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta to Bogota, Colombia, in January but was delayed due to the incident.
According to the FAA, the nose wheel broke off and rolled down a hill as it prepared for takeoff.
It also marks the latest in a series of worrying incidents involving Boeing aircraft.
Last month, a Boeing 737 suddenly plunged less than 500 feet above the ground in Oklahoma, terrifying residents who feared the plane would crash.
One of the most terrifying incidents was when a door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 exploded at 16,000 feet last January.
Last month, Boeing executives agreed to a $243.6 million plea deal that would allow the company to avoid criminal prosecution over two fatal 737 Max crashes.
Under the agreement, Boeing will plead guilty to one count of criminal fraud stemming from fatal crashes in Indonesia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia less than five months later, which killed a total of 346 people.
