A Delta Air Lines aircraft reportedly came into contact with a firework above Chicago during Fourth of July celebrations. The pilot of Delta flight 1076 informed air traffic controllers before landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on Saturday night that a firework had struck the plane during its descent.
An audio recording from LiveATC.net captured the pilot describing a ‘big bang’ felt on the aircraft. The incident occurred while flying at an altitude between 200 and 250 feet. The pilot suggested that the noise might have been a mortar firework launching.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Delta confirmed that the aircraft, an Airbus A319 from Atlanta, carried 52 passengers and six crew members. It safely landed just after 8:30 p.m. local time, without any injuries onboard. Delta stated on Sunday that mechanics inspected the plane and found no damage. The FAA plans to investigate the incident.
Reports suggest that other aircraft might have experienced similar encounters with fireworks on Saturday night. In the audio, an air traffic controller noted multiple such reports and confirmed that Chicago city officials were informed.
The FAA did not provide immediate responses regarding further incidents, while the Associated Press reached out to city and police officials in Chicago for more details.