Delta passengers report hours-long delays, cancellations on Atlanta-to-Chicago flights during busy holiday weekend
Travelers flying from Atlanta to Chicago faced a frustrating start to the holiday weekend Friday, with many reporting hours-long delays and, in some cases, cancellations after repeated schedule changes and a reported ground stop.
The travel disruptions came the same weekend a Delta Air Lines flight arriving from Atlanta was struck by a firework while landing at Chicago Midway International Airport, according to newly released air traffic control audio obtained by CBS News Miami.
In the audio, Delta pilots can be heard reporting a "big bang" after the aircraft was hit by what investigators believe was a firework. Authorities are investigating the incident, and no injuries have been reported.
CBS News reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment. A spokesperson for the airline said, "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."
Meanwhile, travelers flying between Atlanta and Chicago on flights DL2378 and DL1199 described a chaotic Friday evening as operations became increasingly disrupted.
A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said, "Severe weather in both the Atlanta and Chicagoland areas on Friday, July 3 resulted in air traffic control delays for some flights. Safety comes before all else and we apologize to our customers for any disruption to their travel plans."
Among them was this digital reporter.
After arriving at the airport for an originally scheduled flight to Chicago, the departure time was unexpectedly moved up by about 10 to 15 minutes. Although the change was outside the passenger's control, the missed flight resulted in a rebooking onto a later departure scheduled for approximately 3:30 p.m.
That replacement flight was then delayed by nearly three hours before experiencing multiple additional delays. Throughout the evening, the departure gate changed several times, and the flight was pushed back repeatedly before ultimately being canceled altogether.
Other passengers taking connecting flights also reported being stranded overnight in Atlanta after experiencing similar delays and missed connections.
The disruptions came during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, when airlines across the country are handling increased passenger volumes around the Independence Day holiday.