Delta Pilot Reports Firework Hit Plane Above Chicago

A Delta Air Lines flight landed safely at Chicago Midway International Airport on July 4 after its pilot reported a firework hit the plane during descent. The flight, which carried 52 passengers and six crew members from Atlanta, was flying at an altitude of 200 to 250 feet when the incident occurred. The pilot described feeling a ‘big bang’ on the plane, hoping it was just a mortar that went off. Despite the incident, the plane landed safely just after 8:30 p.m. local time, with no onboard injuries or damage found by mechanics after inspection. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it will investigate the incident, which is not the only reported encounter of its kind, with air traffic controllers receiving multiple reports of similar incidents. The FAA did not immediately respond to questions about whether it was aware of additional firework-related incidents, and the city government and Chicago Police Department have been contacted for further information.