A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 en route from Denver to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing when its windshield cracked midair, leaving one pilot injured.
The incident occurred on October
16, involving flight UA1093, which was carrying 140 passengers and crew members. The aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet when the damage was detected.
Reportedly, the aircraft descended to 26,000 feet before safely landing at Salt Lake City International Airport. The aircraft was about 322 kilometres southeast of Salt Lake City when the crew noticed the damage and chose to divert. The pilots promptly initiated emergency procedures, descending and landing the plane safely.
Passengers were later rebooked on another aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, and reached Los Angeles after a six-hour delay.
How Did The Windshield Crack
Photos shared online allegedly show burnt marks on the cracked windshield and bruising on one pilot’s arm. This means that it was not a routine structural crack.
According to aviation experts, the impact may have been caused by space debris or a small meteorite, citing the scorch marks and the unusual damage pattern on the windshield.
Usually, aircraft windshields are designed to withstand bird strikes and major pressure changes, but an object travelling at high speeds could easily breach the threshold.
No passengers were injured, confirmed United Airlines, describing the pilot’s condition as minor bruising. The airline has not yet commented on what caused the crack.
In another incident on October 18, a United Airlines aircraft struck the tail of another United plane while taxiing to its gate at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. According to United officials, no injuries were reported, and all 113 passengers disembarked safely after a brief delay.
