Delta Flight 1076 Hits Firework During Chicago Landing, No Injuries
Delta Air Lines Flight 1076, an Airbus A319 transporting 52 passengers and six crew members, was unexpectedly struck by a fireworks projectile as it descended onto Chicago’s Midway International Airport on Saturday evening.
United States officials reported only minor paint damage to the fuselage and confirmed that no passengers or crew were harmed. Airline spokespersons stated that the plane landed safely and taxi‑ed to the gate without significant incident.
The incident was recorded on the pilot’s air‑traffic‑control radio dispatch: “We just had a firework hit our plane,” the pilot said, noting that the impact occurred at approximately 200 feet (61 m) above ground. Air‑traffic controllers also warned pilots of fireworks being launched from homes nearby the airport approach.
Delta Flight 1076 took off from Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson Airport at 19:51 EDT (00:51 BST) and touched down in Chicago at 20:33 CDT (02:33 BST). The Federal Aviation Administration placed the incident at around 20:30 CDT, citing reports from their US partner CBS News.
The crash occurred during a nationwide fireworks display celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence, a tradition celebrated with both official state‑led displays and private, often unsupervised, displays. In Washington, D.C., for instance, a 40‑minute show was staged by the National Park Service featuring a large fleet of military aircraft and fireworks.
Following the incident, the airline inspected the aircraft and found no structural or operational damage; the only damage noted was superficial paint scratching. The Chicago Police Department confirmed that the object struck the plane was an unknown projectile causing minor damage, but they could not identify its exact type.
Holiday fireworks also prompted temporary flight suspensions at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to accommodate military flyovers and the launch schedule of the 40‑minute display.
The FAA has announced that while the incident only caused paint damage, investigations into safety protocols will continue as part of a broader review of transient hazards during high‑traffic periods.
