Delta flight struck by fireworks while landing in Chicago on Fourth of July, FAA investigates
Delta Flight Struck by Fireworks Mortar During Approach to Chicago Midway on July Fourth
A Delta Air Lines flight carrying 58 people was struck by a fireworks mortar as it approached Chicago Midway International Airport on Saturday evening, the Fourth of July. The aircraft landed safely and no one was injured.
Delta Flight 1076, an Airbus A319, departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 7:51 p.m. Eastern Time and touched down at Midway at 8:33 p.m. Central Time, according to a Delta spokesperson. The flight had 52 passengers and six crew members on board.
The crew reported that a fireworks mortar struck the aircraft shortly before landing, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The pilot did not declare an emergency, and the plane landed without incident before taxiing to the gate.
"The flight safely landed and taxied to the gate," a Delta spokesperson said.
After the aircraft arrived at the gate, Delta mechanics inspected it and found no damage, the airline said. However, Chicago police told CBS Chicago that the firework caused minor paint damage to the aircraft and that the plane was undergoing additional inspections to determine whether it sustained further harm.
The FAA has said it will investigate the incident. It remained unclear as of Sunday where the fireworks were launched from or whether authorities had identified anyone responsible. The Chicago Department of Aviation and the Chicago Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.
Delta said it would fully cooperate with the FAA and other authorities as they review what happened.
The incident comes during a period of heightened scrutiny of air traffic safety across the country. In recent weeks, the FAA has probed several near-miss incidents, including a helicopter reporting a close encounter with a remote-controlled plane near New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and a separate incident involving a JetBlue flight and what may have been a drone strike.
Holiday-period fireworks launches near airports have long been a concern for aviation regulators and airlines. Mortars and other aerial fireworks can travel significant distances and reach altitudes that pose a risk to aircraft on approach or departure paths. The FAA prohibits fireworks from being discharged within five miles of an airport runway, though enforcement can be difficult during holiday celebrations when consumer fireworks use surges.
Midway, located on Chicago's Southwest Side, is surrounded by dense residential neighborhoods where private fireworks displays are common around Independence Day. Chicago city officials had urged residents to attend professional fireworks shows rather than setting off their own, citing both safety and quality-of-life concerns.
No further details about the flight's flight path at the time of the strike or the altitude at which it occurred were immediately available. The FAA's investigation is expected to examine those factors along with the origin of the fireworks.