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The pilot of Delta flight 1076 notified air traffic controllers
just before landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on
Saturday night that a firework hit the commercial airliner
during its descent. In an audio recording published online by
LiveATC.net, the pilot described feeling “a big bang” on the
plane.
According to the recording, the incident occurred when the plane
was flying at an altitude of 200 to 250 feet. The pilot said the
crew hoped the bang “was just a mortar that went off,”
referencing the tube that helps launch aerial fireworks.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and Delta said the
plane, which had taken off from Atlanta carrying 52 passengers
and six crew members, landed safely just after 8:30 p.m. local
time.
The incident didn't result in any onboard injuries, and
Atlanta-based Delta said Sunday that mechanics who inspected the
Airbus A319 did not find any damage.
The FAA said it would investigate the incident.
It's unclear if fireworks struck other airplanes on Saturday. In
the LiveATC.net audio, an air traffic controller was heard
saying there had been “multiple reports" of such encounters and
that Chicago city officials were aware.
The FAA did not immediately respond to questions about whether
it was aware of additional firework-related incidents impacting
Saturday flights. The Associated Press also reached out to the
city government and the Chicago Police Department for further
information.
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