Delta Plane Struck By Firework While Landing In Chicago, Passengers Safe

Delta Air Lines said a firework struck one of its aircraft during descent into Chicago, but the flight landed safely without injuries.

A Delta Air Lines flight carrying passengers from Atlanta to Chicago was struck by a firework while descending into Midway International Airport on Saturday night, though the aircraft landed safely without injuries, according to the airline and aviation authorities.

The airline said Flight 1076, operated by an Airbus A319, “reportedly made contact with a firework while on descent” into Chicago.

“The flight safely landed and taxied to the gate,” a Delta spokesperson told the BBC. “There were no injuries and the incident was reported to aviation authorities.”

The incident occurred as millions of Americans celebrated the United States’ 250th anniversary with fireworks, a longstanding Independence Day tradition.

According to flight data, Delta Flight 1076 departed Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 7:51 p.m. EDT (00:51 BST) and arrived at Chicago Midway International Airport at 8:33 p.m. CDT (02:33 BST).

Air traffic control recordings captured the pilot reporting the incident moments before landing.

“We just had a firework hit our plane,” the pilot told controllers, adding that the impact occurred at an altitude of about 200 feet (61 metres).

The pilot further said:

“We’re just hoping it was just a mortar that went off underneath but definitely felt a big bang.”

Recordings also revealed that air traffic controllers had warned the flight crew about fireworks being set off near the airport approach path before the aircraft descended.

“Delta 1076… use caution, there are multiple homes near the approach end shooting off fireworks,” an air traffic controller advised.

The controller added that authorities had already received several complaints about the activity.

“There have been multiple reports as you can imagine. The city is aware. They said they would notify the Chicago police, but you know, I don’t know what they will do.”

The Chicago Police Department told the BBC that the aircraft “was struck by an unknown object” which resulted in “minor paint damage.”

Delta, however, said a post-flight inspection of the Airbus A319 found no damage that affected the aircraft’s safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. CDT and has been reported to the relevant aviation authorities.

The BBC said it had contacted Chicago city officials regarding reports that fireworks were being discharged from homes located near the airport’s approach path.

While many of the largest Independence Day fireworks displays across the United States are organised by federal, state and local authorities, privately organised fireworks—often unsupervised—remain common in residential areas.

In Washington, D.C., celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary featured a 40-minute fireworks display organised by the National Park Service at the National Mall. To accommodate the celebrations, flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were suspended from midday on Saturday to allow military flyovers and the large-scale pyrotechnic display.