Explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems Plant in McEwen, Tennessee
An explosion occurred at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) facility in McEwen, Tennessee, on the morning of Friday, October 10, 2025. The incident took place at approximately 7:45 a.m. CT.
Authorities have confirmed that 16 workers died in the blast. The explosion reportedly obliterated at least one building at the complex, scattering debris over a wide area and leaving behind a crater. Eyewitnesses miles away reported feeling their homes shake from the detonation.
The investigation is ongoing, involving multiple local, state, and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Facility Description
The Accurate Energetic Systems facility, located in a rural area straddling Humphreys and Hickman counties, is a 1,200+ acre site. The company develops, manufactures, and processes energetic materials and explosives.
According to its website and government contract descriptions, AES specializes in high-explosive compositions (such as RDX, HMX, and TNT) and manufactures munitions components for the U.S. Department of Defense (including the Army and Navy), as well as for commercial aerospace and mining clients.
Speculation on Potential Causal Factors
The official cause of the explosion is currently under investigation and has not been released.
Given that the facility's operations involve the processing, blending, and handling of primary and secondary high explosives, the incident was likely an uncontrolled detonation of energetic materials. Such events can be initiated by factors such as static discharge, impact, friction, or thermal energy (overheating) during a manufacturing step.
The incident occurred during a reported shift change. Activities during startup, shutdown, or shift handover can sometimes introduce a higher risk of error or deviation from standard operating procedures.
Reports indicate the facility experienced a previous fatal explosion in 2014 and was cited by OSHA in 2019 for safety violations. If these reports are accurate, they could suggest pre-existing challenges in the site's Process Safety Management (PSM) program, although a direct connection to the October 2025 incident is unverified.