United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 Makes Emergency Landing After Windshield Crack

A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as flight UA1093 from Denver to Los Angeles, was forced to divert to Salt Lake City International Airport after its windshield cracked at 36,000 feet, resulting in minor injuries to one pilot.

The flight, carrying 140 passengers and crew, landed safely after descending to 26,000 feet.

According to NDTV and RT reports, the aircraft was approximately 322 kilometres southeast of Salt Lake City when the crew noticed the damage and initiated emergency protocols. Social media images allegedly revealed burn marks and an unusual damage pattern on the windshield, with one pilot sustaining minor bruising.

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Speculation among aviation experts suggests a high-speed object, possibly space debris or a small meteorite, may have caused the incident, as aircraft windshields are typically built to withstand bird strikes and pressure changes but could be vulnerable to such impacts.

United Airlines confirmed no passengers were harmed and described the pilot’s injuries as minor.

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The airline has not yet disclosed the exact cause of the windshield damage. Passengers were rebooked on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 and arrived in Los Angeles after a six-hour delay.

In a separate incident on October 18, a United Airlines aircraft at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport collided with the tail of another United plane while taxiing to its gate. No injuries were reported, and the 113 passengers disembarked after a brief delay, according to the airline.