Delta Flight Struck by Firework During Chicago Landing
Incident Overview
A Delta Air Lines flight encountered a firework while approaching Chicago Midway International Airport amidst Independence Day festivities, as reported by US aviation officials. The incident involved Delta Flight 1076, which was arriving from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 8:30 PM local time on Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Audio from air traffic control captured the flight crew informing that their aircraft had been struck. The crew communicated, "Tower, we just had a firework hit our plane, Delta 1076, we're continuing. We just heard a bang on the plane, so we'll have to look at it when we get to the gate. We're just hoping it was just a mortar that went off underneath, but definitely felt a big bang." Delta confirmed that the Airbus A319 took off from Atlanta at 7:51 PM Eastern Time and landed safely in Chicago shortly after 8:30 PM Central Time. The airline noted that the flight did not declare an emergency.
A Delta flight arriving at Chicago's Midway International Airport on the Fourth of July reportedly made contact with a firework, the airline said.Delta Air Lines Flight 1076 departed Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 7:36 p.m. ET and landed at Midway Airport at 8:38… pic.twitter.com/vNjdwYPmrU
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According to Delta, there were 52 passengers and six crew members aboard. A spokesperson for the airline stated, "Delta flight 1076 from Atlanta (ATL) to Chicago (MDW) reportedly made contact with a firework while on descent. The flight safely landed and taxied to the gate." Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The aircraft was taken out of service for inspection, but mechanics found no damage. The FAA has initiated an investigation into the occurrence.