Delta Air Lines flight hit by fireworks mortar near Midway Airport
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FOX Business Host Cheryl Casone discusses the increased drone danger around airports after a JetBlue flight was shot down near JFK and a helicopter narrowly missed a large toy plane. He explains that drones lack transponders, making them difficult to track. The FAA has launched a public safety campaign that receives about 100 complaints a month with fines of up to $100,000 for interference.
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A Delta Air Lines flight was hit by a fireworks mortar as it was landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on July 4, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Delta Flight 1076 landed safely at Midway around 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday after the crew reported that a firework mortar had struck the aircraft shortly before landing, the FAA said in a statement.
The plane departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta at 7:51 PM ET and landed at Midway at 8:33 PM CT, a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines told Fox News Digital.
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Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 in a file photo. Delta Flight 1076, an Airbus A319, was hit by a fireworks mortar while landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on July 4, according to federal authorities. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Airbus A319 was carrying 52 passengers and 6 crew. Delta said no injuries were reported.
“The plane landed safely and proceeded to the gate,” a Delta spokesperson said.
According to the airline, the crew did not declare an emergency and the plane landed without incident. Delta said technicians inspected the plane after it arrived at the gate and found no damage.
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In a file photo, a sign greets passengers heading to Chicago Midway International Airport. Delta Flight 1076 was hit by a fireworks mortar as it was landing at the airport on July 4, federal officials said. (Getty Images)
Chicago police told CBS Chicago that the fireworks caused minor damage to the plane’s paint and that the plane was undergoing additional inspection to determine whether it sustained further damage. However, Delta told Fox News Digital that technicians did not detect any damage during the post-flight inspection.
The FAA said it would investigate the incident.
Aerial view of Chicago Midway International Airport in a file photo. Delta Flight 1076 was hit by a fireworks mortar as it was landing at the airport on July 4, federal officials said. (Getty Images)
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It is not yet known where the fireworks were fired or whether authorities have identified those responsible. Fox News Digital has contacted the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Chicago Police Department for additional information.
Delta said it will fully cooperate with the FAA and other authorities as they investigate what happened.
