A recent report suggests that a United Airlines jet that experienced a serious incident while cruising at 36,000 feet over Utah last month collided with a rogue weather balloon. This collision shattered the airplane’s windshield, sending shards of glass into the cockpit.
The captain, injured from the flying glass, managed to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City after the balloon struck the Boeing 737 during its flight around 6:43 a.m. on October 16. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed these details on Friday.
Interestingly, just one day prior, a high-altitude weather balloon launched from Spokane, Washington, appeared to drift south through Nevada before making its way back toward Utah, according to initial reports.
Aerospace company Windborn Systems stated they had lost contact with their gas-filled balloon, which was in the vicinity during a flight from Denver to Los Angeles when the incident occurred.
Windborn added that their design aimed to reduce potential damage from collisions with aircraft or ground impacts by avoiding rigid or heavy metal components.
Still, experts noted that the plane’s windshield should withstand the impact of a bird weighing up to 4 pounds without cracking.
The NTSB report indicated that the two pilots were showered with glass shards upon impact, although all 111 passengers on board were unharmed.
The captain received multiple superficial lacerations on his right arm, while the first officer emerged without injury. Harrowing images circulating online depicted the captain’s bruised and bleeding arm, with glass scattered throughout the cockpit and dashboard.
The incident unfolded shortly after the captain noticed an unidentified object in the distance; however, before he could warn the co-pilot, the object struck the plane with a loud noise, according to the report.
Fortunately, the aircraft maintained cabin pressure, allowing the crew to safely return to Salt Lake City International Airport.
In light of the NTSB’s findings, Windborn announced four new safety measures intended to prevent future mid-air collisions.
These measures include shortening the duration balloons stay in commercial airspace, enhancing air traffic warnings, developing collision avoidance systems, and decreasing balloon mass to mitigate potential damage.
“We are grateful that UA Flight 1093 landed safely with only minor damage,” the company stated, adding their systems are designed to minimize risks from airborne impacts and ensure safety even in rare situations.
The investigation by the NTSB is ongoing.
