19 people dead or missing after massive blast at Tennessee military explosive plant, officials say

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ra_laidgp@reddit

I always remember Bucksnort because when we would go visit family in Kentucky my mom would point out the exit and say “don’t blink or you’ll miss it!” Which I now do with my kids. Sad to see it in the news over something like this.

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cocowynter@reddit

Thanks for saying something positive!

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N0n3of_This_Matter5@reddit

I hope that number goes down as the situation becomes more clear.

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NoTerm3078@reddit

It won't. Apparently there were 19 people in the building and it's gone. I thought this was a bit of an odd thing to have happen because I don't really recall seeing this in the news, but apparently this same explosives plant exploded 11 years ago.

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Murky-Theme-1177@reddit

Not only that but back in 2020 they had a fire break out in the evaporator room (which is the area that is coal black in the aerials meaning probably where the explosion originated)& the maintenance man kept a water hose on it until fire dept. showed up. He was hailed a hero for keeping the fire from reaching explosives & then got fired 3 days later along with his coworker. They said the evaporator was not being cleaned etc. Maint. guy said whomever put the evaporator in used wood materials & it was hazardous

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NoTerm3078@reddit

I read that yesterday and it was appalling. Also, they fired an old man who sued them over it and he won some kind of settlement (he couldn't say due to the terms). Sounds like a very shady place.

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Murky-Theme-1177@reddit

Yeah I think it was an “accident waiting to happen” job culture

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Murky-Theme-1177@reddit

But the building that exploded in 2014 was on the same property as this recent one but not the same building. This latest building is what they called the Melt Pour building. Still concerning though

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youareactuallygod@reddit

It went down to 18. One person was at home. Could you imagine being that guy??

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IceDragonPlay@reddit

Can you imagine being this kind of business and not having a card swipe system that knows exactly who is in/out of every building at any given time?

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HeavenlyMusings@reddit

I wonder if he struggled with calling in sick or something and was like nah I can't

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fragrant-final-973@reddit

Hope he survives the survivor's guilt.

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reality72@reddit

All things considered it seems like their products work

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throwawayt44c@reddit

WKUK Landmine factory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U3g-h1rxQw

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Headieheadi@reddit

lol that was so stupid. I was a huge fan of wkuk, that’s gotta be up there with the most stupid skits they’ve done

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arod422@reddit

I was like oh… I’ll watch it, I’ve heard of them. Total letdown

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Dissasociaties@reddit

Missing u Trevor ;-(

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squeakycheetah@reddit

bruh

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Eeny009@reddit

That's not a stellar track record...

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jared555@reddit

Some executive to OSHA: eleven years since the last lost time incident!

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punktualPorcupine@reddit

OSHA: I’m not getting paid and have no authority. Do whatever.

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NoTerm3078@reddit

That's not a stellar track record...

Personally I'm hoping they don't rebuild.

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ThrowRA76234@reddit

Ahh fuck me. You know that if the person in charge of the operational safety/security during these incidents ever did something to warrant the relief of their duties, they’d be putting that shit all over their resume. “Proven track record in ensuring safe, reliable, and on-time deliveries”

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truth_is_power@reddit

>click link

>first picture looks like gaza

sorry bro...

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dustycanuck@reddit

TNT≠ nitroglycerin

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truth_is_power@reddit

good catch, thinking of dynamite. Trinitrotoluene is supposed to be easier to handle.

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dustycanuck@reddit

Yes, certainly safer to handle than unstable nitroglycerine.

Fun fact, the creator of the Nobel Prize, Alfred Bernhard Nobel, is known for inventing dynamite, a stable form of the explosive nitroglycerin. He stabilized it by mixing nitroglycerin with an absorbent substance like diatomaceous earth (kieselguhr), which created a paste that could be formed into rods. This invention made explosives safer to transport and handle, significantly impacting industries like mining and construction.

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electromage@reddit

Thanks Derek.

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jared555@reddit

Only chance is probably if they actually weren't there.

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The_Vee_@reddit

Sure is weird it exploded shortly after the DoD signed a contract with them for procurement of TNT.

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TheTendieMans@reddit

Looking at the before and after pictures, I have to sadly say these people have been atomized. Top layer of earth if you need to say any prayers kinda deal.

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Carthonn@reddit

Honestly if I’m going to go in an explosion I’d want to be atomized. Just be like “What’s that noise…” and then vaporized.

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VdoubleU88@reddit

Meanwhile, MAGA cheers for Trump’s continued slashing of regulations and oversight. If only it could just be MAGA idiots who paid the ultimate price when these things happen because they’re the ones who seem to want to die for greedy corporations.

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papaswamp@reddit

That man lives rent free in your head. I suppose Obama was at fault for the explosion at the same plant? Or perhaps making explosives is just plain dangerous?

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Severe_Driver3461@reddit

Obama slashed regulations and oversight?

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papaswamp@reddit

Amazing right. In less than a year companies just suddenly stopped being careful in an explosives plant. Or....working in an explosives plant (that already had violations) is inherently dangerous, regardless of who is president. Just like working as a lineman, oil rig worker, miner, lumberjack is an inherently dangerous job. Seriously is this a prepperintel sub or just a place to bitch about some politician one wants to blame for everything?

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Severe_Driver3461@reddit

I was young when he was president, I didn't hear about him doing those things. I do hold the belief that all of those that the powerful allow into power are corrupt, so I'm not surprised or anything

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papaswamp@reddit

If you imagine that someone in a position of govt over 340 million people, is responsible for any small event, you are unserious.

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Severe_Driver3461@reddit

I don't

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fragrant-final-973@reddit

I suppose Obama

That man lives rent free in your head.

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papaswamp@reddit

When sarcasm flies right over your head. 👍🏻 No president (regardless of party) is responsible for a local private company failure. Especially one that had already been cited for safety issues.

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DrDrago-4@reddit

Timeline:

An explosion at an Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant in Tennessee on October 10, 2025, occurred less than a month after the company was awarded a new, nearly $120 million contract for the procurement of TNT.

This comes after, months ago, trump cut OSHA and NIOSH (funding, workforce, and authority to stop-work)

https://www.epi.org/blog/too-many-workers-die-on-the-job-every-year-trumps-attacks-on-osha-will-kill-more/

https://www.clasp.org/blog/cuts-to-niosh-and-osha-are-an-imminent-threat-to-all-workers/

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/27/trump-safety-cuts-workplace-risks-niosh

So, yeah, this is a unique situation. Cut OSHA/NIOSH funding, layoffs, curtail authority, implement tariffs on a critical good (TNT), oops turns out we need TNT, and I started a trade war and messed that up, so here's a contract ! 1 month later, this. this plant was the sole bidder on the contract, because prior to 2025 we had successfully outsourced production of dangerous explosives like TNT.

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VdoubleU88@reddit

I see that critical thinking is not your strong suit. Let me guess — you’re one of the orange parasite’s MAGA plebes?? Yikes.

Where did I say that Trump was directly at fault for this? Oh right, I didn’t. What I did say is that MAGA happily supports Trump’s slashing of regulations, something he did a lot of during his first term, and continues to do in this term, and abolishing regulations are exactly how incidents like this explosion occur. Trump slashing regulations in favor of his rich buddies has led to, and will continue to lead to more situations like this happening, and more people will be hurt — regulations exist for a reason, to keep people safe from the egregious shit rich parasites will do to earn a quick buck, and the only reason the MAGA crowd cheers for deregulation is because they are really fucking stupid.

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papaswamp@reddit

Yes yes... I'm sure you were not meaning that trump was at fault when tour entire comment was about trump. Why make it if you are not suggesting he was at fault?

Seriously. Blaming presidents (any) for a single event at a private business is just political rhetoric and low mentality. That plant had violations, for years, exploded before (explosives plants do that occasionally).

Blame trump for something he did do such as inflation, upcoming material shortages (unless he tacos), collapse of soy farmers, etc.. Not some random event.

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Donald_McRonald420@reddit

you're right, we should have even less regulations. the fascists promised us even less regulations at the plant that already had exploded 15 years ago and damnit if they don't deliver I'm not voting for their asses to destroy our constitution if they dont

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Civil-Bee-5083@reddit

Probably not a popular opinion, and I still have sympathy for those who died, but it’s kinda like a hunter getting killed by the animal they were hunting.

Instead of a Gaza apartment building etc, the bomb killed the bomb makers.

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loringlorious@reddit

They didn't manufacture bombs there. The names of the deceased haven't been released yet but my guess is these were regular blue collar workers, making dog shit money just trying to feed their families like everyone else. The hunters are still out there.

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Xrider24@reddit

God dammit. Such a tragedy. So many lives ruined.

These people likely were working for no pay currently, too. And now they are dead. Will their families ever receive their benefits?

Fuck this administration. Mike Johnson's closeted, self-loathing gay ass could end this, but he would rather protect pedophiles than feed Americam military families. He deserves a place in hell for all this. Along with all his puppeteers.

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papaswamp@reddit

Yes yes Obama was responsible for the explosion at the same plant in 2014 right?

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ALittleEtomidate@reddit

I mean, presumably whoever was responsible for safety checks at that factory is/was responsible for this. Whoever was employed in this position back in 2014 was responsible then.

Trump’s defunding of federal agencies that keep track of safety compliance may not have played a role here, but it definitely didn’t help. lol.

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papaswamp@reddit

The plant already had violations. Blaming the president (in office less than a year) for a single plant local screw up, is just political hilarity. Inflation due to tariffs and probably upcoming shortages of key materials... absolutely. He is either going to have to taco or things are going to get real messy soon.

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Xrider24@reddit

What are you smoking? (I'll have what hes having)

This administration has murdered over 350000 people with the USAID cuts alone. Not to mention the OSHA and NIOSH cuts that DIRECTLY effect places like this plant.

Stop normalizing the horror caused by this administration. At least open your eyes. Blame them for everything they have done. And this is certainly one of them.

WAKE UP

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DrDrago-4@reddit

https://www.clasp.org/blog/cuts-to-niosh-and-osha-are-an-imminent-threat-to-all-workers/

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CEOfeast@reddit

I think it depends on what went wrong and how the plant has been affected by the administration’s actions.

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khoawala@reddit

Well... It's a weapon factory so this event is potentially saving more lives.

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Quirky-Reputation-89@reddit

Cue the Clerks conversation about roofers and the death star.

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YellowBroth9150@reddit

Right? Definitely some irony here...

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Hillary4SupremeRuler@reddit

I don't know how that works with government shutdown and private companies like this because they do contract with the DOD but they also make stuff for industry as well so I guess it depends on the company itself if they have enough money to still pay their employees.

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S4sostancey@reddit

Most of the time, those contracts are already funded prior to work beginning and this includes the salaries for those involved with said contracts.

Source: my partner works for a defense contractor and has been unaffected.

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Media_Adept@reddit

I just posted about this as well. While not stated explicitly, it's a solid bet that the explosives produced by AES are being sent over to Ukraine. If it was found to be a case of Industrial Sabotage, how much information would be put out to the public? Would they just mention foul play?

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jaimi_wanders@reddit

It could be, as that happened to a Czech munitions factory supplying Ukraine back in ‘14, but also they had years of safety violations according to the article, so it’s a toss-up, sad to say.

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Agitated-Ad6744@reddit

the illegals we need to ferret out are the stay behind forces Epstein's MAGA invited in

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Biotic101@reddit

I guess it could be a "normal" accident, but leaving this here:

Czech police confirmed on April 29 that agents of Russia's military intelligence (GRU) were involved in two ammunition depot blasts that killed two workers near the eastern Czech village of Vrbetice in 2014. In 2021, Prague accused Moscow of being involved in the blasts and expelled several Russian diplomats. Moscow denied any involvement. The Czechs said two Russian men were involved in the explosion, identifying them as Russian citizens who have also been accused by Britain of participating in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England.

And lets not forget what happened in Bulgaria...

Bulgarian Blasts, Russian Agents, And The War On Ukraine

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DawnPatrol99@reddit

More than likely loose regulations and poor maintenance. The same town had an oil plat explode about 11 years ago.

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papaswamp@reddit

Nope that would cause panic.

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Cleavlander@reddit

All of Europe is on alert for this hybrid war with Russia. I was just wondering when the first event would happen in the US.

The US Govt will not tell us about Russian involvement if they are suspected. Watch our actions. If support for Ukraine increases sharply, you'll know the answer.

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fellowhomosapien@reddit

I hope not; there's been a lot more industrial terrorism lately than is commonly recognized

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Thehealthygamer@reddit

'Member the refinery on fire in Cali last week? That barely got any press.

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Littleshuswap@reddit

Republicans don't want you to know what happens when you deregulate stuff.

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fellowhomosapien@reddit

I dont, actually- thank you for telling me

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FuzzzyRam@reddit

Would they just mention foul play?

Depends on if the leader of the armed forces is compromised by Russia or not.

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Hillary4SupremeRuler@reddit

He is sadly

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Thehealthygamer@reddit

Damn this would be one case where you could just waltz in, spread stacks of evidence around, papers saying "I'm guilty I did this" and none of it would be found after the fact.

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No-Fail7484@reddit

Be a Russian around. Can’t trust them at all.

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TheGaslighter9000X@reddit

The plant had multiple OSHA violations and fines.

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spinningcolours@reddit

Does OSHA still exist?

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RumbleCart@reddit

Not currently. On vacation until funding resumes

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Plaguedoctorsrevenge@reddit

Osha will never get funding again

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totpot@reddit

They defunded the US Chemical Safety Board

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TheGaslighter9000X@reddit

Would it surprise you if the answer was “yes”? Lol

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FuzzzyRam@reddit

Currently, but someone wants to make sure more of these events happen... https://www.epi.org/blog/too-many-workers-die-on-the-job-every-year-trumps-attacks-on-osha-will-kill-more/

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Atheios569@reddit

Name checks out.

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Hillary4SupremeRuler@reddit

First of all that's not what gaslighting means second of all what you're thinking of is "lying," and you would still be wrong because this plant does in fact have multiple OSHA violations and workers have died and explosions there before due to poor enforcement of regulations.

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