Delta Air Lines plans to manufacture mobile hospital care pods for the U.S. military to fly home deployed members who have contracted the coronavirus.

Atlanta-based Delta said its Technical Operations division and its advanced manufacturing subsidiary Delta Flight Products plan to convert dozens of 40-foot shipping containers into reusable hospital care pods that can be placed inside military transport planes.

The airline said it partnered with the U.S. Air Force, UTS Systems and Highland Engineering to deliver a prototype last week. The pods are designed to fit military stretchers or up to 32 seats with negative pressure compartments and HEPA filtration.

After the prototype is reviewed, the companies expect to produce 25 units in the coming months, and potentially another 50 units after that.

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Donald Trump's administration deployed the military to Washington, D.C., in the name of fighting crime, and in an Aug. 11 news conference he mentioned the possibility of military being sent to other large American cities, all of which are led by Black, Democratic mayors. And while Atlanta wasn't included in Trump's list, the city fits that profile under Mayor Andre Dickens. (Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Getty)

Credit: Philip Robibero