Body of Delta worker 'unrecognizable' after tire explosion, son says

Delta Air Lines workers killed, another injured following tire explosion at maintenance facility in Atlanta

The son of a Delta Air Lines worker killed at the airline’s aircraft maintenance facility in Atlanta early Tuesday says his father's body was "unrecognizable," and only able to be identified by his tattoos.

Mirko Marweg, 58, was known as "Mr. Fix-It" to his family. He served in the Air Force for four years and worked for the MARTA metro system, prior to being employed by Delta Air Lines for more than 20 years, according to 11Alive News.

"I'm in a state of shock," Marweg's son, Andre Coleman, told the TV station. "I wanted to view the body because I didn't believe it was true. Neither did my mom."

"We identified him by tattoos and his Mississippi State lanyard around his neck."

DEATHS OF 2 DELTA WORKERS UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AFTER WHEEL MISHAP AT GEORGIA FACILITY

Delta Air Lines employee Mirko Marweg

Delta Air Lines employee Mirko Marweg, right, worked for the airline for more than 20 years, reports say. (Facebook/Mirko Marweg / Fox News)

The fatal incident happened shortly after 5 a.m. at a maintenance facility in Delta's Technical Operations Center next to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the airline said.

Marweg was among two workers who died while wheel components were being disassembled for maintenance at a wheel and brake shop. A third worker was seriously injured.

The parts were not attached to a plane at the time, Delta said.

2 DELTA WORKERS KILLED, THIRD PERSON INJURED AT GEORGIA MAINTENANCE FACILITY

Delta Air Lines planes in Atlanta

The plane believed to have been involved was a Boeing 757-200, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

The Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office identified the second victim as 37-year-old Luis Aldarondo. The injured worker remained in medical care as of Wednesday following the incident, which Delta said involved wheel components that were being disassembled for maintenance and not attached to an aircraft.

A federal investigation by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is underway.

Delta TechOps facility

Sources told FOX 5 Atlanta that a tire exploded as workers removed it from an aircraft. (FOX 5 Atlanta WAGA / Fox News)

Marweg, who lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia, was planning to retire in a few months, according to 11Alive.

Coleman said his father was a loving man who had just helped change the oil on Coleman's motorcycle on Sunday.

"That’s the kind of dad he was. He was always there," Coleman said.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DAL DELTA AIR LINES INC. 45.20 +0.93 +2.09%
Delta TechOps facility

Two Delta workers were killed and a third person was injured at the Delta TechOps facility near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Georgia early Tuesday, the company said. (FOX 5 Atlanta / Fox News)

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The cause of the explosion has not been released.

The plane believed to be involved, a Boeing 757-200, arrived from Las Vegas, Nevada, after 9 p.m. Sunday, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. 

Fox News' Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.