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Mystery Object Cracks United Flight Windshield, Injures Pilot; Weather Balloon Company Takes Responsibility
A United Airlines flight en route to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City last week after an unknown object struck its windshield at 36,000 feet, causing a significant crack and resulting in minor injuries to the pilot. The incident sparked immediate investigation by aviation authorities.
The mystery surrounding what could have caused such damage at that altitude began to clear on Monday night when WindBorne Systems, a company specializing in long-duration smart weather balloons, issued a statement suggesting one of their balloons may have been responsible. The company confirmed it is actively cooperating with both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in their ongoing investigation.
In their statement, WindBorne Systems outlined immediate changes implemented to minimize the time their balloons spend between 30,000 and 40,000 feet. They also announced accelerated plans to integrate live flight data for autonomous avoidance of aircraft, even those at non-standard altitudes. Furthermore, the company is working on new hardware designs to reduce impact force and concentration.
The damaged windshield has been transported to the NTSB’s laboratory for further analysis. Flight tracking data from Flight Radar24 confirms the plane was at 36,000 feet when the impact occurred, after which it followed standard protocol by descending to a lower altitude before landing safely at Salt Lake City International Airport.
Aviation analyst John Nance described the situation as “extraordinary,” particularly the ability of the glass to cause injury and the puzzle of what could have been encountered at such a high altitude. Aircraft windshields are designed with multiple layers to withstand impacts from birds, weather, or debris, but experts note that bird strikes are extremely rare at 36,000 feet. Nance speculated that a drone, a weather balloon, or something with enough mass to cause such shattering would be more likely culprits.
United Airlines confirmed that the Boeing 737-MAX 8, carrying 134 passengers, landed safely to address the damage. The pilot received treatment for minor injuries.
Passenger Heather Ramsey, a college student on board, recalled sensing something amiss about 50 minutes into the flight, even before any official announcement. She overheard a flight attendant instruct a colleague to halt service and move to the back of the cabin. Shortly after, the pilot announced the diversion, stating, “The aircraft has collided with an object and a window in the cockpit has shattered, so we need to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City.”
Images of the cracked windshield were initially shared on social media by aviation account JonNYC. United Airlines arranged for passengers to continue their journey to Los Angeles on another aircraft later that day and is working to return the damaged plane to service.