Federal investigators are looking into an incident involving a United Airlines flight that had to divert due to a cracked windscreen. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on October 19 that it is investigating the situation surrounding the Boeing 737-8, which encountered the issue while traveling from Denver to Los Angeles on October 16. During the flight, the crew noticed a crack in one layer of the windscreen, prompting a decision to reroute to Salt Lake City International Airport.
There were 134 passengers and six crew members on board the flight, all of whom landed safely in Salt Lake City. Following this, another aircraft was dispatched to transport the passengers to their original destination in Los Angeles.
In a separate incident the following day, two United Airlines aircraft collided while on the ground at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. In this case, one plane’s wing made contact with another’s rear stabilizer, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
These events come at a challenging time as the ongoing government shutdown has begun to affect airport operations. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air traffic controllers are currently working without pay, leading to potential delays at various airports.
While incidents involving aircraft are taken seriously and spark thorough investigations, it is reassuring to see that in both occurrences, safety measures were upheld, ensuring that no one was harmed. The scrutiny and responses by aviation authorities highlight the commitment to maintaining air travel safety standards.