According to a report by the Global Times, citing the New York Post on Oct. 19, a United Airlines Boeing 737 was struck by an unidentified object in the cockpit windshield while flying at high altitude. The shattered glass injured the pilot and forced the plane to make an emergency landing.
The plane was reportedly en route from Denver to Los Angeles on Oct. 16 local time and was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City. Photos circulating online showed bruises and bleeding on the pilot's arm, consistent with injuries caused by glass. Another photo showed the plane's windshield shattered, and marks on the fuselage and glass indicated the plane had likely been struck.
It is reported that collisions with objects such as birds and hail are not uncommon during low-altitude flights, but this particular plane was flying at an altitude of over 10,000 meters when it was struck, a level not typically associated with such impactors. Some online speculated that the impactor could have been space debris or even a meteorite.
United Airlines stated the incident, saying, "The flight landed safely in Salt Lake City on Thursday (Oct. 16) to address damage to the multi-layer windshield. We have arranged for another aircraft to transport the passengers to Los Angeles later that day, and our maintenance team is working diligently to return the aircraft to service."
The aircraft is reportedly still grounded in Salt Lake City.
Related News:
Watch This | Cargo plane from Dubai veers off runway in HK, crashes into ground vehicle — 2 dead
Comment