A United Airlines flight made an urgent emergency landing after an unidentified object shattered its cockpit windshield at 36,000 feet. The incident injured the pilot and forced the Boeing 737 to divert. It happened on a Thursday evening flight from Denver to Los Angeles.
The aircraft landed safely in Salt Lake City. According to the Associated Press, the pilot sustained visible cuts and bruises from flying glass. United Airlines confirmed the diversion was to address significant damage to the multi-layered windshield.
Photos from the incident showed the cockpit interior covered in glass shards. Dark scorch marks were visible on the dashboard near the point of impact. The pilot's arms were injured, but no other serious injuries were reported.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737. It remains grounded pending a full investigation. United Airlines arranged for a replacement aircraft to transport the passengers to their final destination in Los Angeles later that same day.
The cause of the impact remains unknown. Initial online speculation suggested rare events like a meteor strike or space debris. However, experts consider such possibilities highly unlikely based on historical data.
A 2023 FAA report estimated the odds of space debris causing a serious injury on a commercial flight at one in a trillion. Some aviation specialists have pointed to a potential electrical malfunction. The presence of scorch marks, however, strongly indicates an external object was the cause. NASA currently tracks over 25,000 pieces of orbital debris, highlighting ongoing concerns for both aircraft and spacecraft safety.