A recent Fourth of July celebration in Chicago took an unexpected turn for passengers aboard Delta Air Lines flight 1076 when the aircraft reportedly collided with a high-flying firework during its descent into Chicago Midway International Airport.
The pilot of the Atlanta-originating flight immediately alerted air traffic controllers just before landing on Saturday night, describing "a big bang" that resonated through the commercial airliner. An audio recording of the exchange, later published by LiveATC.net, captured the pilot's account of the unusual mid-air incident.
The startling encounter reportedly occurred at an altitude of merely 200 to 250 feet, with the pilot expressing hope that the impact was "just a mortar that went off," referencing the launching tube for aerial fireworks. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Delta confirmed that the plane, carrying 52 passengers and six crew members, landed safely at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time.
Thankfully, the incident resulted in no onboard injuries. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines conducted a thorough inspection of the Airbus A319 on Sunday, with mechanics confirming that no damage was sustained. The FAA has since announced it will launch an investigation into the matter.
Adding to the concern, an air traffic controller's remarks on the LiveATC.net audio indicated "multiple reports" of similar firework encounters that evening, suggesting Chicago city officials were already aware of the potential hazard. It remains unclear if other aircraft were affected on Saturday. The FAA has yet to respond to inquiries regarding additional firework-related incidents, and The Associated Press has also sought further information from Chicago's city government and police department.
