Rogue Weather Balloon Shatters United Airlines Windshield
A recent report revealed that a rogue weather balloon was the mystery object that collided with a United Airlines jet last month, causing the windshield to shatter and glass to shower the cockpit as the plane flew over Utah at 36,000 feet.
The captain, who sustained multiple lacerations from the glass, was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City after the balloon struck the Boeing 737 aircraft around 6:43 a.m. on Oct. 16, as announced by the National Transportation Safety Board on Friday.
According to the preliminary report, a WindBorne Systems global sounding balloon launched from Spokane, Washington, drifted south through Nevada before looping back north into Utah a day before the incident.
WindBorne Systems, a California-based aerospace company, stated that they lost contact with the high-altitude weather balloon, which was in the vicinity when the jet’s windshield was damaged while en route from Denver to Los Angeles.
These balloons are designed to minimize damage in case of collisions with aircraft or the ground, as they contain no large metal or high-stiffness structural parts, as mentioned in the report.
However, aircraft windshields are engineered to withstand a four-pound bird strike without cracking, officials explained.
The report stated, “The impact resulted in both pilots being showered with pieces of glass,” noting that the 111 passengers onboard were unharmed. The captain sustained superficial lacerations to his right arm, while the first officer was uninjured.
Photos shared online showed the captain’s bruised and bleeding arm, along with the cockpit and dashboard covered in broken glass.
After spotting a mysterious object on the horizon, the captain was unable to warn the first officer before the collision occurred with a loud bang. Despite the incident, the cabin maintained its pressure, and the crew successfully diverted and landed at Salt Lake City International Airport.
WindBorne responded to the NTSB report by implementing four new safety measures to prevent future mid-air collisions.
These measures include reducing the time balloons spend in commercial airspace, enhancing air traffic alerts, developing collision-avoidance algorithms, and decreasing the balloons’ mass to minimize damage in case of a collision.
The statement from WindBorne expressed relief that Flight UA 1093 landed safely and with minimal damage, emphasizing their commitment to continuous improvement and strengthening safety measures following the incident.
The NTSB investigation into the collision is ongoing.
