'We Just Had a Firework Hit Our Plane'

A holiday fireworks celebration got uncomfortably close to a Delta jet over Chicago this weekend. Delta says Flight 1076 from Atlanta "made contact with a firework while on descent" into Midway Airport on Saturday night, as the US celebrated the Fourth of July, reports the BBC. "We just had a firework hit our plane," the pilot told air traffic control, estimating the impact at about 200 feet above ground. "We're just hoping it was just a mortar that went off underneath but definitely felt a big bang."

The Airbus A319, carrying 52 passengers and six crew, landed safely, and no injuries were reported, per NBC News. Chicago police told the BBC the aircraft was struck by an "unknown object" that caused "minor paint damage," while Delta said an inspection found no damage. The FAA is aware of the incident, which occurred around 8:30pm local time. Controllers had been warning incoming pilots about fireworks being launched from homes near the runway.