Delta Flight 1076 was struck by a firework while landing at Chicago Midway Airport on July 4, 2026. The plane landed safely and no one was hurt.
What Happened During Landing
Delta Flight 1076 was hit by a firework while landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on the Fourth of July. The crew radioed the control tower after hearing a loud bang while approaching the runway, about 200 to 250 feet above the ground. The pilot told air traffic control, “We just had a firework hit our plane,” adding they hoped it was just a mortar that went off underneath the plane. This account comes from ABC7 Chicago. Plane hit by firework: Delta Flight 1076 reportedly hit by firework near Chicago Midway International Airport on Fourth of July – ABC7 Chicago +2
Flight Details
Delta Air Lines Flight 1076 departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 7:36 p.m. ET and landed at Midway Airport at 8:38 p.m. CT, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. The aircraft was an Airbus A319. Full flight timing details are reported by NBC Chicago. NBC ChicagoABC7 Chicago
Air Traffic Control Warning
The air traffic controller had advised the crew to be cautious, warning there were multiple homes near the approach shooting off fireworks. The controller told the crew there had been multiple reports of similar incidents and instructed them to head to the gate and inspect the aircraft for damage. As a Southwest flight later descended into Midway, a controller warned, “Welcome to the war zone.” These radio exchanges were reported by CNN. Plane hit by firework: Delta Flight 1076 reportedly hit by firework near Chicago Midway International Airport on Fourth of July – ABC7 Chicago +2
Damage And Passenger Safety
Chicago police said the firework caused minor paint damage to the aircraft. No one was hurt, but the aircraft was taken out of service for a full inspection. On Sunday, the plane was under evaluation to make sure there was no further damage, Delta said. This update comes from CBS Chicago. Delta Air Lines flight hit by firework while landing at Midway International Airport – CBS Chicago +2
Statements From Delta And The FAA
Delta said in a statement, “Delta flight 1076 from Atlanta (ATL) to Chicago (MDW) reportedly made contact with a firework while on descent. The flight safely landed and taxied to the gate.” The FAA confirmed that Delta Air Lines Flight 1076 landed safely at Chicago Midway International Airport around 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 4, and said the agency is investigating the incident. These statements were published by NBC News. ABC7 ChicagoCNN
How High Fireworks Can Reach
The Delta pilot reported that the plane was flying at about 200 feet during its descent when the firework struck. Smaller consumer fireworks can reach heights of 50 to 200 feet, while professional firework shows can send explosions as high as 1,200 feet. This context on firework altitude was reported by CNN. CNNCNN
City Response
City officials were made aware of the potential dangers the fireworks posed to departing and arriving flights. Air traffic controllers said they would notify Chicago police about the fireworks near the runway. This response was detailed by CNN. CNNCNN
