The Atlanta-based wheel and brake shop of Delta TechOps experienced a tragedy in late August when two workers were killed and a third was seriously injured during a maintenance procedure.
The accident happened at the Delta TechOps maintenance facility near the international terminal at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl. Airport, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, August 27, 2024. Atlanta Fire & Rescue, as well as police, came to the scene just after 5 a.m.
Reports say the incident involved components of an aircraft wheel in the shop. The wheel was not attached to an aircraft, Delta said. The company released very few details. But the two people who were killed were reported to be Mirko Marweg, 58, and Luis Aldarondo, 37, according to the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s office.
In a memo to workers after the accident, John Laughter, president of TechOps said, “We are extending our full support to their families at this difficult time and conducting an investigation to determine what happened.” Delta said it is working with OSHA and the FAA to investigate. “We are committed to sharing and addressing any significant findings to prevent an incident like this from ever happening again,” Laughter said.
Mirko Marweg was a man of exceptional technical abilities who could fix almost anything, according to his son, Andre Coleman. Coleman said he lovingly restored a ’64 Chevy Impala and enjoyed do-it-yourself improvement projects around his home. Marweg was helping out on his day off when the incident occurred. Normally he worked in the paint shop. Marweg was a U.S. Air Force veteran and is survived by four children and his wife of 28 years, Scottie Ann.
Luis Aldarondo, who also died in the incident in August, was memorialized on his home island of Puerto Rico.