Delta faces lawsuit, OSHA fine in 2024 deadly tire explosion
ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - Delta Air Lines is facing a lawsuit and a hefty fine in a fatal tire explosion at one of its maintenance facilities in 2024.
Luis Aldarondo’s estate filed the lawsuit against the airline.
Aldarondo, 37, was one of two Delta TechOps employees killed during the August 2024 incident at the facility’s tire and wheel shop. Mirko Marweg, 58, also died in the incident and a third employee was injured.
The lawsuit, filed in Gwinnett County State Court on March 28, demands a jury trial.
Delta was also issued a $16,550 fine from the Occupational Safety and Health istration.
“The employer did not furnish the employees employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm,” OSHA’s citation states.
OSHA found that the employees were “exposed to struck-by hazards.”
“The employer failed to ensure that adequate aircraft tire deflation procedures were developed and implemented to control the struck-by hazards associated with explosive separation of multi-piece aircraft wheel rims that can be caused by rapid depressurization of aircraft tires during wheel disassembly,” OSHA’s citation states.
Delta sent WANF a statement regarding the OSHA fine.
“At Delta, nothing is more important than safety,” the statement reads. “Following the tragic incident involving three team late last summer, we launched a thorough investigation and have already implemented corrective actions that are consistent with those provided by OSHA.”
The airline declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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