Two people have died after a Boeing 757’s tyre exploded while it was being changed.

An employee of Delta Air Lines, the plane’s operator, and a contractor were killed in the maintenance area of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport just after 5am on Tuesday.

A third person is understood to have suffered serious injuries.

It is the latest disaster for embattled aeroplane maker Boeing, which is already facing serious allegations about its safety and quality checks.

Delta said in a statement it was “heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance facility”.

The airline added: “We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.

“The Delta family is grateful for the quick action of first responders and medical teams on site. We are now working with local authorities and conducting a full investigation to determine what happened.”

‘Deepest condolences’ 

According to publicly available flight information associated with the plane’s tail number, the aircraft was a Boeing 757-232 which had landed in Atlanta from Las Vegas on Sunday night.

Andre Dickens, the mayor of Atlanta, said: “I offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Delta employees.

“My thoughts are also with those who were injured, and I hope for their swift and full recovery.”

Earlier this year, a Boeing 757 plane operated by Delta lost a nose wheel as it prepared to take off from Atlanta.

In January, one of the manufacturer’s 737 Max 9 planes operated by Alaska Airlines suffered a mid-air blowout, prompting US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration to launch an audit of the company’s production practices.

The Telegraph contacted Delta and Boeing for comment.