A Delta Air Lines jetliner at Denver International Airport. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press, File)
key takeaways:
- A Delta Air Lines plane landed safely at Chicago Midway on July 4 after its pilot reported that the plane had experienced an explosion of fireworks while landing on July 4.
- The flight from Atlanta was carrying 52 passengers and six crew, and Delta said mechanics found no damage or injuries.
- The FAA said it would investigate, while the audio indicated that air traffic controllers had received multiple reports of similar encounters.
There was reportedly an interaction between a Delta Air Lines flight and a high-flying firework in the sky over Chicago as the city celebrated the Fourth of July holiday.
The pilot of Delta Flight 1076 informed air traffic controllers just before landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on the night of July 4 that the commercial aircraft was hit by fireworks while landing. In an audio recording published online by LiveATC.net, the pilot described feeling “a big bang” in the plane.
According to the recording, the accident occurred when the plane was flying at a height of 200 to 250 feet. The pilot said the crew hoped the blast was “just a mortar that exploded,” referencing the tube that helps launch aerial fireworks.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and Delta said the plane, which took off from Atlanta carrying 52 passengers and six crew members, landed safely just after 8:30 p.m. local time.
No one on board was injured as a result of the incident, and Atlanta-based Delta said on July 5 that mechanics inspecting the Airbus A319 found no damage.
ATC Communication: A Delta Air Lines A319 aircraft operating Flight 1076 was reportedly hit by fireworks while landing at Chicago’s Midway International Airport on Saturday, July 4 (just before 8:40 p.m.).
Delta Air Lines Flight 1076, which was flying… pic.twitter.com/Bpjr2AJxzM
– FL360aero (@fl360aero) 5th July 2026
The FAA said it would investigate the incident.
It is unclear whether other airplanes carried fireworks on July 4. In LiveATC.net audio, an air traffic controller was heard saying there were “numerous reports” of such encounters and that Chicago city officials were aware of them.
The FAA did not immediately respond to a question about whether it was aware of additional fireworks-related incidents. The AP also contacted the city government and the Chicago Police Department for more information.
