Delta Worker Identified, Cause of Death Revealed After He’s Killed at Orlando Airport in Tragic Accident
The staff member has been identified as Daniel Maldonado, 49, according to reports
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Orlando-international-airport-100725-4b45031b61254cc0a631d63217177ff0.jpg "General view of the Orlando International Airport ahead of Hurricane Milton on October 9, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.")
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NEED TO KNOW
- A Delta Air Lines employee, who was killed at Orlando International Airport on Thursday, May 7, has been identified as Daniel Maldonado, according to reports
- Maldonado died after an aircraft tug vehicle collided with a jet bridge at around 10:55 p.m. local time
- A report from the Ninth Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office, which serves Orange and Osceola counties, stated that 49-year-old Maldonado’s death was accidental, adding that he died of multiple blunt impact injuries, per WESH 2
A Delta Air Lines employee who died at Orlando International Airport (MCO) has been identified.
PEOPLE previously reported that a staff member had been killed when an aircraft tug vehicle collided with a jet bridge at around 10:55 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 7.
The aircraft had just landed and was preparing to deplane when the incident took place, per Fox 35 Orlando.
The crew member has now been identified as Daniel Maldonado, according to Fox 35 Orlando, The Detroit News and WESH 2.
Credit: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty
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A report from the Ninth Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office, which serves Orange and Osceola counties, stated on Friday, May 8 that 49-year-old Maldonado’s death was accidental, per WESH 2. The report added that the victim, from Orlando, died of multiple blunt impact injuries, the outlet noted.
The Orlando Police Department also confirmed to Fox 35 Orlando on Friday that the incident appeared to be accidental, citing preliminary information.
PEOPLE has reached out to the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office and Orlando Police Department for comment, but didn’t immediately receive a response.
Credit: Orlando Police Department/Facebook
Delta Air Lines previously confirmed to PEOPLE that they had lost a staff member.
“The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of a team member while on the job at Orlando International Airport on the evening of May 7,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time. We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred,” they added.
Following the incident, operations at Delta’s Orlando station were paused as staff worked closely with investigators. As of Friday afternoon, operations had resumed at MCO, PEOPLE previously reported.
During the suspension, one Delta flight was canceled, and passengers were able to be rebooked through other airlines.
A spokesperson for the airport previously told PEOPLE, “The Orlando International Airport community is deeply saddened about the loss of a team member from one of our airline partners, a member of our extended airport family.”
“We send our condolences to his family and friends,” they added.