Plane landed safely at Midway with 52 passengers, 6 crew
Delta Air Lines Flight 1076 was descending toward Chicago Midway International Airport on the evening of July 4 when the pilot notified air traffic controllers that the plane had reportedly come into contact with a firework.
In audio published by LiveATC.net, the pilot told controllers the crew “felt a big bang” as the aircraft flew at an altitude of approximately 200 to 250 feet. The pilot said the crew hoped the sound “was just a mortar that went off,” a reference to the launch tube used in aerial fireworks displays.
The flight had originated from Atlanta with 52 passengers and six crew members aboard, Delta said. The plane touched down safely just after 8:30 p.m. local time on July 4, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA said in a statement that the flight landed safely.
The incident occurred as Chicago celebrated the Fourth of July holiday, with fireworks shows taking place across the metropolitan area.