A Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 carrying 52 passengers and six crew members was hit by fireworks while preparing to land at Chicago’s Midway International Airport on Saturday night.
The flight, Delta 1076, departed Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson Airport at 19:51 EDT (00:51 BST) and touched down in Chicago at 20:33 CDT (02:33 BST). At roughly 200 feet above the runway, the pilot heard a strong “big bang” and reported “we just had a firework hit our plane”.
The incident was first flagged by air‑traffic control, who advised the crew that “there are multiple homes near the approach end shooting off fireworks”. The Chicago Police Department later confirmed that the airplane sustained minor paint damage from an unknown object.
Officials said there were no injuries and the aircraft safely landed and taxi‑ed to the gate. The FAA noted the event occurred around 20:30 CDT, and the airline inspected the aircraft afterward with no further damage found.
The fireworks that night were part of the nationwide celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence. While large, state‑organised displays are common around airports, private fireworks set off from surrounding homes are far more frequent and less regulated.
Although the event caused minimal damage, it underscored the importance of coordination between aviation authorities and local governments during major public celebrations.
