Delta flight 'felt a big bang' after apparently being hit by firework while landing in Chicago

A Delta Air Lines flight appears to have been hit by fireworks while landing at Chicago Midway International Airport, according to air traffic control audio and the airline. The pilot of Delta Flight 1076 told controllers that “a firework hit our plane” and said the aircraft felt “a big bang” during descent, suggesting it might have been a mortar that went off beneath them. Controllers warned that there were “multiple reports” of similar incidents and instructed the crew to go to the gate to inspect for damage. As a Southwest Airlines flight descended, another controller said, “Welcome to the war zone.” The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, and Delta said the flight landed safely around 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 4, with no reported injuries.