Delta Flight and Firework Incident During Chicago’s Fourth of July Celebration

A Delta Air Lines flight reportedly came into contact with a firework in the sky above Chicago amidst the Fourth of July celebrations. The incident involved Delta flight 1076, as it was preparing to land at Chicago Midway International Airport on Saturday night.

The flight’s pilot informed air traffic controllers shortly before landing that a firework had struck the aircraft during its descent. According to an audio recording on LiveATC.net, the pilot reported experiencing a “big bang” on the plane, which occurred when flying at an altitude of 200 to 250 feet. The pilot speculated that it might have been a mortar, a device used to launch fireworks.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Delta Air Lines confirmed the plane landed safely at around 8:30 p.m. local time. The flight, originating from Atlanta, was carrying 52 passengers and six crew members. Fortunately, no injuries were reported onboard. Delta stated their mechanics inspected the Airbus A319 and found no damage.

The FAA announced it would investigate the incident further. The audio recording also revealed that an air traffic controller mentioned multiple reports of similar firework encounters, and that Chicago officials were informed. The FAA did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding additional firework-related airplane incidents that night. The Associated Press sought further details from the city government and Chicago Police Department.