Delta Flight Encounters Firework in Chicago Sky During July 4th Celebrations

In an unusual incident above Chicago during the Fourth of July celebrations, a Delta Air Lines flight reportedly had contact with a firework as it descended towards Chicago Midway International Airport. The pilot of Delta flight 1076 informed air traffic controllers prior to landing that the commercial airliner was hit by a firework. This was confirmed through an audio recording available on LiveATC.net, where the pilot expressed feeling “a big bang” on the aircraft.

The recording indicates the occurrence took place while the plane was at an altitude of 200 to 250 feet. The pilot suspected the bang might have been “just a mortar that went off.” Such mortars are utilized to launch aerial fireworks.

Despite the startling incident, the flight, which had departed from Atlanta with 52 passengers and six crew members, safely landed shortly after 8:30 p.m. local time. Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, reported no injuries aboard and stated that mechanics checked the Airbus A319 for damage but confirmed none was found. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced they would investigate the matter.

Questions surrounding whether other airplanes experienced similar firework encounters remain. The LiveATC.net audio captured an air traffic controller mentioning “multiple reports” of such incidents, and indicated Chicago city officials had been informed. Additional confirmation from the FAA was pending, as they had not immediately responded to inquiries about other possible firework-related occurrences that day. The Associated Press reached out to Chicago’s city government and police department for more details.