EXHIBIT 16 [LETTERHEAD OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP] Office of the Chief Accountant Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 May 28, 2002 Dear Sir/Madam: We have read the first four (4) paragraphs of Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated May 24, 2002, of the Delta Family-Care Savings Plan to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein. Very truly yours, /s/Arthur Andersen LLP Copy to: Mr. Leon A. Piper Chairman, Administrative Committee, Delta Family-Care Savings Plan