What to Know About the Company Involved in Deadly Oct. 10 Blast

It’s been a week since a blast killed 16 people at an explosives plant in rural Tennessee on the morning of Oct. 10. The cause of the explosion remains unknown as investigators search for answers. 

Here is what to know about the Accurate Energetic Systems, the company that owns the site. 

The explosion occurred at an AES manufacturing plant located on 1,300 acres of land in the unincorporated community of Bucksnort, Tenn., near the border of Hickman and Humphreys counties, about 60 miles southwest of Nashville.

AES was established in 1980 and develops and manufactures munitions and explosives for military, aerospace and commercial demolition use — according to archived pages of the company’s website, which has since been updated to acknowledge the explosion with other pages of the website seemingly removed. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, coworkers, and community members affected by this incident,” the website reads. “We extend our gratitude to all first responders who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions.” 

The company has sold weapons like bulk explosives and landmines to the U.S. military and entered into contracts with the Army and Navy branches, according to the Associated Press. The AES website notes that its products are also utilized in avalanche control, mining and blasting, and the oil and gas industries. 

The company has about 75 employees who work across five production buildings and a quality lab, according to the Association of the United States Army website, for which it lists AES as a sponsor. 

In 2014, one person was killed and four were injured in an explosion at the facility, according to a report from WSMV. The 2014 explosion involved a separate company, American Sporting Supplies, which leased a building at the site. A spokesperson with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development told WSMV that AES was not connected with that incident. 

The company committed Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations in 2019, according to online records, citing that employees were not protected from exposure to certain dangerous chemicals. In February 2023, the company formally settled, paying $7,200 in fines, and completed abatement after initially contesting the penalties.

“Safety is not just a priority but a cornerstone of our operations, whether we're manufacturing bulk explosives or conducting explosive testing and characterization,” the archived AES website stated. 

The investigation into the cause of last week’s explosion could last for several weeks or months, and law enforcement officials have said foul play has not been ruled out.

AES provided the following statement to Scene sister publication the Nashville Post:

"Our team at Accurate Energetic Systems is shocked and devastated following the tragic explosion and loss of 16 employees that took place on our campus on October 10, 2025. These team members are our family, our friends, our neighbors — it is impossible to comprehend.

"Our top priority is to support our team, their families and our community as we grieve together. The outreach we’ve received from thousands of neighbors, churches, businesses, organizations and even those not directly impacted by this tragedy has been overwhelming. We would especially like to thank Compassion Church in Waverly, McEwen Church of Christ, World Central Kitchen, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Tennessee Disaster Mental Health Strike Team — these and numerous other organizations and individuals have been a light and provided strength for all of us during this devastating time. Ours is a close and incredible community.

"Accurate Energetic Systems is committed to learning what caused this unprecedented tragedy, and we recognize this will be a lengthy process. Our dedication to the highest safety standards has been our constant priority for 45 years at our facilities and in our community. This is shared not just by our company leadership but by our team members and our civic and elected officials. We maintain high industry standards and have regular reviews by state and federal regulators, and we also lead our industry with significant roles within national safety organizations. That is another reason why this tragedy is so difficult to comprehend.

"We are assisting investigators in every way possible and will continue to do so as we all seek answers. We have asked that everyone on our team support the hundreds of responders and investigators that are doing the most difficult of jobs.

"Thank you to all who have reached out and provided support during this tragic time. We will continue to work with local, state and federal agencies to provide updates as we have them.

"We cannot comment on pending litigation."

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.